what does the stick figure represent in addition to the shape of an essay?

Master Torso

4 Affiliate 4 – The Writing Procedure

Kathy Boylan

Communication skills, including writing, are some of the near important soft skills (employable skills that have more to do with emotional IQ such as mutual sense, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration) that students learn when they are in college considering nearly professions crave loftier competency in written communication, which can exist a take a chance for one to shine or to falter. With emails, memos, letters, texts, and even Tweets, most people spend a fair amount of time at work communicating via the written word. Whether you are messaging a colleague, writing to your manager, creating the visitor newsletter, or writing a press release to the media, your writing skills can boost or hinder your career easily, fifty-fifty if you exercise non take a "writing" profession. Basically, writing skills make a difference in how you are perceived in college and in the workplace.  That is the reason it is of import to be certain you are following expected guidelines, always using the steps of the writing procedure, and making sure that all of your writing is coherent, concise, credible, and correct.

1.       What is the writing process?

ii.       What is prewriting?

3.       What is a thesis statement?

four.       How to organize and adjust.

5.       How to write a rough draft.

half dozen.       What is revising?

7.       What is washed during editing & proofreading & formatting?

8.       What are other types of bookish writing?

ane.  What is the writing process?

No matter what type of writing you lot are doing, bookish writing, professional person writing, or personal writing, it tin can be made easier past using the writing procedure.  The writing process consists of the different stages that a writer follows to produce a good piece of writing.  Although different sources may label and group the stages in various ways, the stages of the writing procedure are essentially as follows:

Prewriting – Deciding what to write about (the topic) and gathering information to support or explicate what you want to say about your field of study, and planning how to organize your ideas in a way that finer develops the topic.

Drafting -Writing the first copy of the piece (essay, article, etc.). This is oft called the rough draft. Ultimately, y'all should have multiple copies or drafts of your piece of work.

Revising -Reconsidering the ideas and content of the essay besides as refining the style and structure of the paper.

Editing/Proofreading – Correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics.

Publishing – Sharing the terminal typhoon with others.

Figure 4.1 The Writing Procedure

All the same, the writing process is not a serial of neatly developed steps and may differ somewhat for everyone.  Sometimes ideas do not flow hands, and the essay that you originally starting time out to write is not the essay that y'all end up writing.  Frequently the stages go along erratically and overlap; the important thing is to keep writing and improving until a final production is achieved.  The more that you lot write, the improve you lot will become as a writer.

2.  What is prewriting?

Prewriting describes all of the thinking and planning that precedes the actual writing of a paper.

Much conscientious thought needs to be given to the consignment in general at the beginning of prewriting before focusing on your topic.

Thinking

• Get-go, sympathise the writing assignment and its limits.  Consider the assignment's length.  Ever know the expected length of a writing assignment.  A 2-folio paper has a much narrower topic than a ten-folio paper would have.  If there is no page limit, consider the nature of the assignment to suggest its length.  A summary of a chapter will be much shorter than the original chapter.  An assay of a poem may probable be longer than the poem itself.
• Second, establish the assignment'south purpose.  It is important to know the reasons yous are writing or the purposes you are trying to reach with the writing.
  1. Expressive writing conveys personal feelings or impressions to the audience.
  2. Informative writing enlightens the audition about something.
  3. Persuasive writing attempts to convince the audience to think or deed in a certain manner.

Other more specific purposes tin can include entertaining, analyzing, hypothesizing, assessing, summarizing, questioning, reporting, recommending, suggesting, evaluating, describing, recounting, requesting, and instructing.

• Next, make up one's mind the assignment's audience.  You lot must determine to whom you lot are writing.  An audience can be an individual or a group.  An audition can be general or specialized.  One time you define your audience, you must determine how much the audience already knows most the bailiwick to know how much or footling background information should be included. You lot should also determine how best to approach your audience in terms of language, rhetorical strategies, purposes for reading, and background knowledge.
• Then devise the assignment's occasion.  The occasion for which y'all are writing will make up one's mind the formality and telescopic of a writing project.  An in-grade writing assignment will differ from an out-of-class formal assignment.  A memo for fellow office workers will differ from a written report written for the company's president.  A letter to an aunt will differ from a letter written to a bank to request a personal loan.
• Finally, assess your own previous knowledge of the subject. Before writing, you need to determine what you already know about a subject, what you demand to detect out about the discipline, and what you lot think about the subject.  Personal essays draw upon your own experiences and observations; enquiry essays crave you to gain new knowledge through inquiry.

Topic Choice

The next step in prewriting, and oftentimes the hardest, is choosing a topic for an essay if one has non been assigned.  Choosing a viable full general topic for an assignment is an essential step. Sometimes your instructor will requite you an thought to brainstorm an assignment, and other times your teacher will inquire y'all to come up upwardly with a topic on your ain. A captivating topic covers what an assignment will be about and fits the consignment'southward purpose and its audience.  At that place are various methods yous may use to discover an appropriate topic for your writing.

Using Experience and Observations

When selecting a topic, yous may also desire to consider something that interests you or something based on your own life and personal experiences. Even everyday observations tin can lead to interesting topics. Afterwards writers think about their experiences and observations, they often accept notes on paper to better develop their thoughts. These notes assist writers discover what they have to say near their topic.

Tip

Have you seen an attention-grabbing story on your local news channel? Many current issues appear on television, in magazines, and on the Internet. These can all provide inspiration for your writing. Our library'southward database (http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/az.php)Bug and Controversies is a first-rate source.

Reading

Reading plays a vital office in all the stages of the writing process, but it first figures in the evolution of ideas and topics. Different kinds of documents can help yous choose a topic and develop that topic. For example, a magazine advertising the latest research on the threat of global warming may catch your centre in the supermarket. This cover may interest you, and you may consider global warming as a topic, or perhaps a novel's courtroom drama sparks your curiosity of a detail lawsuit or legal controversy.  Later on you choose a topic, critical reading is essential to the evolution of a topic. While reading almost any certificate, you evaluate the author'southward indicate of view by thinking about his main idea and his support. When you estimate the writer's statement, you discover more than about the author's stance equally well as your ain. If these steps already seem daunting, recollect that fifty-fifty the best writers demand to employ prewriting strategies to generate ideas.

Tip

The steps in the writing process may seem time consuming at first, simply post-obit these steps will save you time in the future. The more you plan in the beginning by reading and using prewriting strategies, the less time yous may spend writing and editing later because your ideas will develop more swiftly.  Prewriting strategies depend on your critical reading skills. Reading prewriting exercises (and outlines and drafts later in the writing process) will further develop your topic and ideas. As you continue to follow the writing process, you will see how to use critical reading skills to assess your ain prewriting exercises.

Freewriting

Freewriting (also called brainstorming) is an do in which you write freely (jot, listing, write paragraphs, dialog, take off on tangents: any "costless" means to you) nigh a topic for a set amount of time (usually three to five minutes or until you run out of ideas or energy). Jot downward any thoughts that come to your mind. Try not to worry about what yous are proverb, how it sounds, whether information technology is expert or truthful, grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Instead, write every bit quickly as you can without stopping. If you are stuck, just copy the same discussion or phrase repeatedly until you come up with a new thought or write almost why you lot cannot go along. Just keep writing; that is the ability of this technique!

Writing oftentimes comes easier when you have a personal connection with the topic. Remember, to generate ideas in your freewriting, call back almost readings that you have enjoyed or that have challenged your thinking. Then write about information technology. Doing this may lead your thoughts in interesting directions.  Chop-chop recording your thoughts on paper will help you detect what you lot take to say well-nigh a topic. When writing apace, try not to doubt or question your ideas, but if y'all exercise, write those, too. Allow yourself to write freely and unselfconsciously. Once you kickoff writing with few limitations, you may find you have more than to say than you kickoff realized. Your catamenia of thoughts can pb you to discover more ideas about the topic likewise every bit different perspectives on it. Freewriting may even lead you to detect another topic that excites you even more than than your original idea.  Freewriting can also be used to narrow a topic and/or to develop supporting ideas once a wide topic has been chosen.

Journaling is another useful strategy for generating topic and content ideas. Journaling can be useful in exploring unlike topic ideas and serve as possible topic ideas for future papers.

Tip

Some prewriting strategies tin exist used together. For example, you lot could utilize experience and observations to come up with a topic related to your form studies. Then y'all could use freewriting to describe your topic in more detail and figure out what yous take to say about it.

Focusing Topic

Once a general topic has been assigned to or called by you, then you must decide on the scope of the topic.  Broad topics ever need to be narrowed down to topics that are more specific.  Then you need to determine what you are going to say about a subject.  Two ways to help narrow a general bailiwick down to a narrower topic are probing and focused freewriting.

• Probing is asking a serial of questions nearly the topic. Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Every bit yous choose your topic, answering these questions can help yous revisit the ideas you already have and generate new ways to recall about your topic. You may also observe aspects of the topic that are unfamiliar to you and that you would like to larn more about. All these idea-gathering techniques will aid you plan for future piece of work on your assignment.

For example, if you were writing about tattoos, then you might ask yourself the following questions:Who practice you know that has tattoos or who are some celebrities with memorable tattoos?What kinds of tattoos practise people usually get–what symbols and what words?Where do people place tattoos on their bodies or where do people go to get tattoos–tattoo parlors?When do people get tattoos–is information technology later some memorable result or life phase?Why practice people go tattoos? Finally, how do people get tattoos–what is the actual process?

• Focused Freewriting is freewriting once again and once more with each freewriting cycle becoming more focused (also chosen looping), and information technology tin can yield a corking bargain of useful fabric. Try this past taking the about compelling idea from 1 freewriting and starting the next with it.

Developing a Topic

The following checklist can assist yous decide if your narrowed topic is a possible topic for your consignment:

• Why am I interested in this topic?
• Would my audition be interested and why?
• Exercise I accept prior knowledge or feel with this topic? If and so, would I be comfy exploring this topic and sharing my experiences?
• Why do I desire to acquire more nigh this topic?
• Is this topic specific? What specifics or details about this topic stand out to me?
• Does it fit the purpose of the assignment, and will it come across the required length of the assignment?

three. What is a thesis statement?

Once the topic has been narrowed to a workable subject, then determine what you lot are going to say well-nigh it; you demand to come up with your controlling or main thought.  A thesis is the main idea of an essay.  Information technology communicates the essay'south purpose with clear and concise wording and indicates the management and telescopic of the essay.  Information technology should not only be a argument of fact nor should it be an declaration of your intentions.  It should be an idea, an opinion of yours that needs to be explored, expanded, and adult into an argument.

A thesis argument:

• tells the reader how you will translate the significance of the subject area matter under word.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the residual of the paper.
• is an interpretation of a question or subject area, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War 2 or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a merits that others might dispute.
• is usually a unmarried sentence somewhere in the introductory paragraph that presents the writer's argument to the reader. However, as essays get longer, a sentence alone is usually not enough to contain a complex thesis.  The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the readers of the logic of their interpretation.

If an assignment asks yous to take a position or develop a claim virtually a subject, you may demand to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that the author needs a thesis argument because the teacher may assume the writer will include one. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and dissimilarity, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively.

How practice I become a thesis?

A thesis is the effect of a lengthy thinking procedure. Formulating a thesis is not the first matter you do after reading an essay consignment. Before yous develop an argument on whatever topic, you have to collect and organize prove, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and remember about the significance of these relationships. (Encounter chapter on argument for more detailed information on edifice an statement.)Once you have done this thinking, you will probably take a "working thesis," a basic or main idea, an argument that you can support with show.  Information technology is accounted a "working thesis" considering it is a piece of work in progress, and it is subject to modify as you lot movement through the writing process.  Writers utilise all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic to arrive at a thesis argument.

For case, there is the question strategy. One way to start identifying and narrowing a thesis idea is to form a question that you want to respond. For example, if the starting question was "Practice cats have a positive effect on people with low? If so, what are three effects?

The question sends you lot off to explore for answers. You so begin developing back up. The first answer yous might find is that petting cats lowers blood pressure level, and, further question how that works. From your findings (research, interviews, background reading, etc.), yous might detail how that happens physically or you might describe historical testify. Yous could explain medical enquiry that illustrates the concept. And then you have your first supporting point — too as the starting time prong of your thesis: Cats have a positive upshot on people with low because they can lower claret pressure . . . .

When yous start with a specific question and discover the answers, the argument falls into place. The answer to the question becomes the thesis, and how the answer was conceived becomes the supporting points (and, unremarkably, the topic sentences for each point).

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there is fourth dimension, run information technology by the instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center (https://tinyurl.com/ybqafrbf) to become some feedback. Even if you do non take time to get advice elsewhere, you tin can do some thesis evaluation of your ain.

When reviewing the starting time draft and its working thesis, inquire the post-obit:

• Is my thesis statement an opinion , and is it a complete thought?Beware of posing a question as your thesis statement.  Your thesis should answer a question that the audience may take about your topic.  Also, exist certain that your thesis statement is a consummate sentence rather than just a phrase stating your topic.

• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis merely states facts that no i would, or even could, disagree with, information technology is possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an statement.

• Is my thesis statement provable? Tin can I establish the validity of it through the bear witness and explanation that I offer in my essay?

• Is my thesis statement specific? Thesis statements that are too vague frequently do non accept a strong argument. If your thesis contains words similar "good" or "successful," run into if you could exist more specific: W hy is something "skillful"; what specifically makes something "successful"?

• Does my thesis pass the "So what?" examination? If a reader's first response is, "Then what?" then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.

• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, ane of them has to change. It is okay to modify your working thesis to reflect things you accept figured out in the form of writing your paper. Remember, ever reassess and revise your writing as necessary.

• Does my thesis pass the "how and why?" test? If a reader's first response is "how?" or "why?" your thesis may be as well open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. Run into what yous can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the kickoff.

To create a thesis argument but follow this formula:

TOPIC  +  CLAIM  =  THESIS Argument

Examples:

1. Animals + Dogs make ameliorate pets than cats. =When it comes to animals, dogs make better pets than cats considering they are more than trainable, more than social, and more empathetic.
2. Movies & Emotions + Titanic evoked many emotions. = The movie Titanic evoked many emotions from an audience.
3. Arthur Miller & Death of a Salesman + Miller'southward family inspired the Loman family. = Arthur Miller's family and their experiences during the Keen Depression inspired the creation of the Loman family in his play Death of a Salesman.

For more information on bad, skilful and meliorate thesis statements from the writing middle at the University of Evansville, go here (https://tinyurl.com/y8sfjale).

Exercise: Creating Constructive Thesis Statements

Using the formula, create effective thesis statements for the following topics:

1. Fake News
2. Drone Technology
3. Fast Food
4. Homework
5. Helicopter Parents

Then accept a partner bank check your thesis statements to run into if they laissez passer the tests to exist stiff thesis statements.

Once a working thesis statement has been created, and then it is time to begin building the body of the essay.  Get all of the cardinal supporting ideas written down, and and then you tin begin to flesh out the body paragraphs by reading, request, observing, researching, connecting personal experiences, etc. Use the information from below to maintain the internal integrity of the paragraphs and shine the menstruum of your ideas.

4. How to organize and adjust?

Once yous have generated supporting ideas for the main thought of your newspaper, you lot need to arrange those ideas in some blazon of society. Clustering and outlining can help organize the ideas.

Clustering (as well called idea mapping) is a way of visually arranging ideas. Brainstorm clustering by writing the topic in the center of a sheet of paper. Circle the topic, and then surround it with words and phrases that identify the major points to be discussed in the paper. Go on the process until all supporting details and secondary details have been listed. Many writers like this method because the shapes bear witness how the ideas chronicle or connect, and writers can observe a focused topic from the connections mapped. Using clustering, you might notice connections betwixt topics that y'all had not idea of earlier.

Effigy four.2 Clustering

Outlining lists the major supporting details in a tentative order and includes secondary supporting details.

Figure 4.3 Traditional Formal Outline

Before you write, yous need to make up one's mind how to organize your ideas.  Yous need to determine the rhetorical style(s) that will be used and the order of the supporting ideas. Simplistically speaking, there are nine basic rhetorical modes.  They are equally follows:narration, description, exemplification, process, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, classification and sectionalization, definition, and statement. However, most complex writing begins with an statement of some sort and and then uses a combination of modes to relay one's bulletin.

Structure of a Paragraph and Essay

All formal paragraphs and essays take a title, a get-go or an introduction, a middle-a body of supporting paragraphs, and an end or conclusion.

A title is at the top of your paragraph or essay, just it is ofttimes the last thing that you lot create considering until the newspaper is complete, you do non really know what your final product will be.  A good championship makes people desire to read your paper; it does not merely repeat the topic sentence or thesis statement; information technology hints at your main idea.  Information technology is not a complete judgement, but it is a phrase or phrases that point your topic.

An constructive introduction captures your readers' attention and arouses their curiosity.  In a paragraph, information technology is ofttimes your topic sentence, and in an essay, it usually includes your thesis argument, which narrows your subject, claims something specific and significant, and conveys your purpose and often your form of arrangement.  You can include a question, tell a story, use a quotation, requite interesting facts or statistics, give groundwork information, or outline a problem and/or a solution.Practise not tell the reader what your topic is–bear witness them.  Do non exist vague and mysterious.  Do not refer back to your title.  Do not repent for what you are nigh to say, and be original. The important affair is that yous claw your readers' attention and motivate them to continue reading.

Your body of supporting evidence should be organized, unified and coherent.  The support can be organized using chronological order, spatial club, or emphatic order.  Each supporting detail should have its own topic sentence and be developed with valuable supporting details.  In an essay, the supporting ideas should support your thesis statement.You should use transitional words or phrases to establish connections between paragraphs and different ideas.Y'all should utilise parallel structure throughout your newspaper and apply repetition sparingly and simply when it is effective and necessary.  Exist consistent in tense, number, and person throughout your paper as well.  The entire body of supporting show should be focused on supporting your primary idea without straying off topic or including unrelated ideas.

Your determination should let the readers know that you are finished and not leave them with whatsoever unanswered questions.  Information technology may recommend a telephone call to action, or information technology may simply summarize a long and complex paper.  The conclusion may echo some of the ideas from the introduction, just it should not be a replica of that paragraph.  It may restate your main thought.  The conclusion tin can be either hopeful or hopeless depending on the mood of your paper.  You lot may leave your reader with some final of import facts, or a compelling instance, or a terminal visual image.Information technology is important that you do not get off in a new management in your conclusion.  Do not brand sweeping generalizations, and again do not repent for any of your ideas. In one case these arrangements and ideas take been decided, then an outline should exist constructed.

Figure 4.4 The Essay Structure

Using a Clear Organizational Pattern

Depending on your topic, y'all might detect it beneficial to use one of these mutual organizational patterns, either within individual paragraphs or within the entire essay:

Pattern	Explanation	Example
Process analysis	A process analysis paragraph is used to draw how something is made or to explain the steps for how something is done.	The first key to growing adept tomatoes is to give the seedlings plenty of room. Brand sure to transplant them to small pots one time they become their first leaves. Even when they are just starting out in pots, they need enough of calorie-free, air, and oestrus. Make sure to warm the ground in advance by covering information technology in plastic sheeting for a couple of weeks. When y'all are set to establish them in soil, constitute them securely enough, so they can put downward some strong roots. Mulch next, and once the stems of the tomato plants have reached a few inches in pinnacle, cut off the lower leaves to avoid fungi. Advisedly prune the suckers that develop in the joints of the developing stems.
Chronological	Chronological arrangement presents information in time order.	As before long as I arrived at the farmers' market, I bought a large purse of lettuce. I walked effectually the corner and saw the biggest, nigh gorgeous sunflower I had always seen. I bought information technology and added it to my lettuce handbag. The flower was so big that I had to hold the pocketbook right in front end of me to keep information technology from being bumped. At the Wilson Pork Farm booth, I tasted a little pulled pork. Yous guessed it—I had to buy a quart of information technology. I went on with a plastic quart container in my left mitt and my lettuce and bloom in my correct manus. I was handling it all but fine until I saw a huge hanging spider plant I had to have. Ever and then gently, I placed my pulled pork container within the spider fern institute pot. At present I was holding everything correct in front of me as I tried to safely make my way through the crowd. That is when I met upward with petty Willie. Willie was most seven years old, and he was playing tag with his brother. I am not sure where their mother was, but Willie came running around the corner and smacked right into me. You are probably thinking that poor Willie had pulled pork all over his clothes and an upside-downward constitute on his head, but no, not at all. I was the one. Willie didn't even notice. He was also decorated chasing his blood brother.
Full general-to-specific	A common paragraph format is to present a full general idea and and then give examples.	The displays at the farmers' market do not lack for variety. You will see every nigh every kind of fresh, locally grown food you can imagine. The featured fruits on a given solar day might be equally varied as pomegranates, persimmons, guava, jackfruit, and citron. Vegetables might include shiitake mushrooms, artichokes, avocados, and garlic. Some vendors also sell crafts, preserves, seeds, and other supplies suitable for starting your ain garden.
Specific-to-general	The reverse of the above format is to give some examples and so summarize them with a general idea.	Your sense of scent is awakened past eighteen varieties of fresh roma tomatoes. Your mouth waters at the prospect of sampling the fresh breads. Your centre catches a glimpse of the colors of handmade, embroidered bags. You linger to touch a perfectly ripe peach. Your ears take hold of the strain of an impromptu jug band. A walk upward and down the aisles of your local farmers' market will engage all of your senses.
Spatial	A paragraph using spatial organization presents details equally you would naturally encounter them, such as from peak to bottom or from the within to the outside. In other words, details are presented based on their physical location.	From elevation to lesser, the spice booth at our farmers' market place is astonishing. Up high vendors display artwork painstakingly made with spices. At center level, you see at least ten different fresh spices in small baggies. On the tabletop is located an assortment of tasting bowls with choices ranging from desserts to drinks to salads. Below the table, but out of the way of customers, are large numberless of the dissimilar spices. As well being a great use of space, the spice berth looks both professional and charming.

five. How to Write a Rough Draft.

Make the Writing Process Work for You! What makes the writing process beneficial to writers is that information technology encourages alternatives to standard practices and motivates y'all to develop your best ideas. For instance, the post-obit approaches, done alone or in combination with others, may amend your writing and assistance y'all move forward in the writing process:

• Begin writing with the office y'all know the most nearly. The purpose of a first draft is to get ideas down on paper that can then be revised.  Consider commencement with the trunk paragraphs and drafting the introduction and conclusion subsequently. You tin starting time with the third indicate in your outline if ideas come easily to mind, or you lot tin can start with the first or second signal   Although paragraphs may vary in length, keep in mind that short paragraphs may contain bereft support. Readers may also recall the writing is precipitous. Long paragraphs may be wordy and may lose your reader's interest. Every bit a guideline, try to write paragraphs longer than one sentence but shorter than the length of an entire double-spaced page.

• Write one supporting signal at a fourth dimension and and so stop. Every bit long every bit you consummate the assignment on fourth dimension, you lot may choose how many paragraphs yous consummate in one sitting. Pace yourself. On the other hand, endeavor not to procrastinate. Writers should always meet their deadlines.

• Take short breaks to refresh your heed. This tip might exist most useful if you are writing a multipage study or essay. Still, if y'all are antsy or cannot concentrate, take a interruption to permit your mind rest, simply do not let breaks extend besides long. If you lot spend as well much time away from your essay, you may have trouble starting over again. You lot may forget key points or lose momentum. Try setting an warning to limit your break, and when the time is up, return to your desk to write.

• Be reasonable with your goals. If you determine to accept 10-minute breaks, try to stick to that goal. If you told yourself that you need more than facts, then commit to finding them. Holding yourself to your ain goals volition create successful writing assignments.

• Keep your audience and purpose in heed as you write. These aspects of writing are just every bit of import when you lot are writing a single paragraph for your essay equally when y'all are considering the direction of the unabridged essay.

• Of all of these considerations, keeping your purpose and your audience at the front of your heed is key to writing success. If your purpose is to persuade, for example, you will present your facts and details in the most logical and disarming mode yous can for the particular audience you lot have in heed. If your audience dwells on logic, for case, points that use reason, facts, documented data, and the similar, will provide the persuasion to which those readers best respond. Some writers find it useful to keep the purpose and audience at the peak of every page, highlighted in some manner, as a reminder of the targets of each point.

• Your purpose will guide your heed as you etch your sentences. Your audience will guide word pick. Are you lot writing for experts, for a general audience, for other college students, or for people who know very little well-nigh your topic? Keep asking yourself what your readers, with their groundwork and experience, demand to know to understand your ideas. How tin you lot best express your ideas, so they are meaningful and memorable and your communication is effective?

• Write knowing that the revision and editing processes lie alee, then exit plenty of time for those stages.

Tip

Y'all may want to place your purpose and audience on an index card that yous clip to your paper (or continue side by side to your computer). On that bill of fare, you may want to write notes to yourself—perhaps virtually what that audience might not know or what information technology needs to know—then that y'all will be certain to address those bug when you write. Information technology may be a good thought to state exactly what you want to explain to that audition, or the subject about which you want to inform them or persuade them.

Writing at Piece of work

Many of the documents you produce at work target a particular audience for a particular purpose. You may find that information technology is highly advantageous to know equally much as y'all can most your target audition and to prepare your message to achieve that audience, even if the audience is a coworker or your boss. Menu language is a common example. Descriptions similar "organic romaine" and "free-range craven" are intended to appeal to a sure type of customer though perhaps non to the same customer who craves a thick steak. Similarly, post-order companies research the demographics of the people who buy their merchandise. Successful vendors customize product descriptions in catalogs to entreatment to their buyers' tastes. For example, the product descriptions in a skateboarder catalog will differ from the descriptions in a wear catalog for mature adults.

Tips to Avoid Writer'due south Block

Set up scheduled times to write and set deadlines to accomplish different parts of your essay, and avert perfectionism–that comes later in the writing process.

Maintaining Internal Integrity of Paragraphs

A paragraph needs to provide links betwixt the ideas, and here are techniques that you can put into practice.

Blueprint	Explanation	Instance
Linkages	Paragraphs with unity menses well and so that readers tin follow forth easily. You lot need to present an thought and so link the residuum of the ideas in the paragraph together. Do not exit any unifying for your readers to do mentally. Do it all for them.	Not all the booths at a farmers' market feature food. One couple has a booth that sells merely fresh flowers. They display some flowers in antique containers and sell the flowers, the containers, or both. A clothesline above our heads displays a variety of dried flowers. A tabular array holds about l vases of varying sizes, and they are all full of flowers. Some vases hold only i kind of long-stem flowers. Others hold mixtures of uncut flowers. Still, others brandish gorgeous arrangements. Both the homo and the woman wear a wreath of flowers on their heads. The whole display is so attractive and smells and so fabulous that it really draws people.
Parallelism	Parallelism means that you maintain the same general wording and format for similar situations throughout the paragraph so that in one case readers figure out what is going on, they tin can easily understand the whole paragraph.	The history of this farmers' market followed a typical pattern. Information technology started out in the 1970s as a co-op of local farmers, featuring a pocket-size city block of minor tables and temporary displays every Saturday morning from Apr to October from nine a.m. to 1 p.m. In the early on 1990s, with the help of a grant from the city, the market expanded its footprint to a larger, more than centrally located city cake with ample parking. It benefited profoundly from the installation of permanent booths, electrical outlets, and a ready water supply. These amenities drew far more customers and merchants. Its popularity reached unprecedented levels by 2000, when the city offered to assist with the staffing needed to keep it open from 9 a.m. to five p.m. on Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Recently, discussions began near how to open the market on weeknights in the summer from v p.one thousand. to 8 p.m.
Consistency	A paragraph with consistency uses the same point of view and the same verb tense throughout. In other words, if you are using third person in the beginning of the paragraph, you employ it throughout the paragraph. If y'all are using nowadays tense to start the paragraph, you stick with it.	There comes a time each yr when you must brainstorm the all-important stride of actually harvesting your vegetable garden. Y'all will want to pick some of your vegetables before they are fully ripe. Eggplants, cucumbers, and squash fall into this category because they can further ripen one time you accept picked them. On the other manus, you will find that tomatoes, pumpkins, and most melons really need to ripen fully earlier you harvest them. Y'all should also keep in heed that you would need plenty of storage space for your bounty. If you lot have a proficient harvest, you lot might want to have a few friends in heed, particularly every bit recipients for your squash and cucumbers.

Using Transitions

Transitions within paragraphs are words that connect ane sentence to some other so that readers can follow the intended meanings of sentences and relationships betwixt sentences. Transitions may also polish the catamenia between body paragraphs.  The post-obit tabular array shows some usually used transition words:

Commonly Used Transition Words
To compare/dissimilarity	after that, over again, as well, although, and so, simply, despite, even though, finally, first/second/3rd/etc., however, in contrast, in the same style, also, all the same, next, on the other paw, similarly, then
To signal cause and event	as a upshot, considering, consequently, due to, hence, since, therefore, thus
To show sequence or fourth dimension	later on, as presently every bit, at that time, earlier, during, earlier, finally, immediately, in the meantime, afterward, meanwhile, now, presently, simultaneously, so far, soon, until, then, thereafter, when, while
To indicate place or direction	above, next to, beneath, beside, beyond, shut, nearby, adjacent to, due north/south/east/w, opposite, to the left/correct
To present examples	for example, for example, in fact, to illustrate, specifically
To suggest relationships	and, as well, too, farther, furthermore, in addition, moreover, too

What Bespeak of View Should Be Used in Bookish Writing?

The dominant perspective in argument writing should exist third person (he, she, it, and they).  What do you gain by using third person?

• Third person puts the topic and argument at the center, where they should exist.

• Tertiary person implies a critical altitude between the writer and the argument, which can reassure readers who might disagree with your perspective that y'all are not being overly swayed by emotional zipper, i.due east., that y'all can be objective.

Figure four.v Point of View

What this means is that writers should minimize the first person (I, me, we, us).  The use of I in writing is often a topic of debate, and the acceptance of its usage varies from instructor to teacher.  Some instructors need all removal of offset person from argument writing, but other instructors do non mind it.  (This is changing fast, though. Many academic journals now encourage starting time-person writing because information technology is more agile, firsthand, and interesting to read. The deciding gene is to follow the instructions of your instructor.) While you may feel more than comfortable using commencement person because y'all still think of an argument as the same as an opinion, be enlightened that using first person in argument writing comes with dissentious effects:

• Using I shifts the focus from the topic and argument to the 1 making the statement.Yous are not the focus of the essay; your argument and its support are. The insertion of I into a sentence alters not only the way a sentence might sound merely besides the composition of the sentence itself. I is oft the subject of a sentence. If the subject area of the essay is supposed to be, for case, smoking, then past inserting yourself into the judgement, you are effectively displacing the discipline of the essay into a secondary position.  Notation the difference in these two sentences:

Smoking is bad.

I remember smoking is bad.

In the showtime sentence, the rightful subject field, smoking, is in the subject position in the sentence. In the second sentence, the insertion of I and think replaces smoking as the discipline, which draws attention to I and abroad from the topic that is supposed to be discussed. Retrieve to keep the message (the field of study) and the messenger (the writer) split.

• Too many I-statements make your statement sound weak.  Excessive repetition of "I think" or "I feel" or "I believe" will somewhen make information technology look similar you are overemphasizing your beliefs because y'all don't have enough conviction in them.  Perception is important.  You may really be incredibly confident in your argument, logic, and evidence, just your overuse of I-statements will undermine that.

• Too many I-statements make your argument sound biased.  Too much use of I will make your readers think yous cannot be objective, and they may uncertainty your support because they recollect you lot are too personally attached to the statement to reasonably and considerately weigh data and logic—even if you are doing that throughout the essay.

• I-statements make your sentences wordier.  Expert academic writing is shark-like, and when declaring arguments and supporting points, you especially want to cut through the noise and confusion with strong, straightforward, economical writing.  Refer again to the two sentences above.  The kickoff is boldly declarative (Smoking is bad.  Boom!). The 2d is wordier, which drains energy and punch from the claim.

Writers may apply the first person POV in personal, reflective or narrative writing.  Yet, the second person POV (using yous) is commonly avoided in whatsoever form of academic writing.

TIP

Consider adopting this rule of thumb: check with your professors for their preference, but fifty-fifty if they permit first person, use it sparingly.

6.  What Is revising?

Once a rough draft is created, take some time to step away from the essay to go a newer and improve perspective.  Then brainstorm revising.  Revising means reexamining and rethinking the kickoff draft, adding and deleting ideas extensively; rearranging any of the ideas, sentences, or paragraphs in the showtime draft; rewriting sentences and paragraphs for more variety, better menstruum, and more precise word choices.  Oft times, you may have 3 or four drafts earlier you are finally satisfied with a final typhoon.  For easier revision, follow the following tips:

• Have fourth dimension between the first draft and the afterward revisions to arroyo it more than objectively.

• Revise on hard re-create rather than on the computer screen.  Exercise non delete whatever drafts!  Do label each successive one. Allow yourself and others to comment (annotate on and give suggestions to improve) your draft.

• Read the draft aloud.  Better yet, take someone else read information technology aloud.

• Accept advantage of opportunities to get feedback; however, do not get overwhelmed by feedback.

• Do not let ego to get in the way of a successful paper.

• Revise in stages–
  1. Revise for overall meaning and structure. Does the essay develop a key point clearly and logically and are the purpose, tone, and indicate-of-view suited for the audience of the essay?
  2. Revise for paragraph development. Bank check that your paragraphs are logically ordered, unified, and specific.
  3. Revise sentence structure. Make your sentences consistent with your overall tone, varied in blazon and length, emphatic, and economical.

• Finally, revise for word choices. Aim for an appropriate level of diction, word choices that do non overstate or understate, specific rather than general terms, stiff verbs, only necessary modifiers, and original and nonsexist language.

• When you become your essays back, read the essay and heed your instructor'southward comments.  They tin can help amend your future essays.  If you exercise not sympathize your grade or the instructor's comments, schedule a conference to hash out them with her.  As y'all revise your futurity essays, revisit the mistakes made before and be sure you avoid repeating them.

7.  What is done during editing & proofreading & formatting?

• To edit, search for grammatical errors, check punctuation, check spelling, and look over sentence manner and word choices ane last time. Come across chapters viii, 9, and 10 for additional aid.

• To proofread, look for surface errors, such as typos, wrong spacing, or formatting issues.

• To format, exist sure that you lot are post-obit the formatting mode your instructor requires whether information technology is Modernistic Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Clan (APA), etc. For more information, see the Brown Library Commendation Styles Guide (http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/citations).

• Overall, look carefully for any mistake, large or small, that may weaken the essay'due south message or undermine its credibility.

viii. What are other types of bookish writing?

In that location are many dissimilar types of writing that you will be asked to create during your academic and professional careers.  Always be articulate what your dominate or professor expects in an assignment before you brainstorm writing.  Below is but a sample of the various assignments you may exist given:

Personal/reflective writing assignment–personal expression about an experience, event, state of affairs, or information.

Expository writing consignment–writing that explains, describes, or informs.

Case study–a written written report virtually a situation, group, or person that one has studied.

Review–summarizing equally well as analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of writing, a show, or an event.

Technical report–articulate, detailed report of the procedures undertaken and the results obtained during a scientific or technical procedure.

Lab study–writing that details the steps taken and the results of a scientific experiment.

Book written report–writing that summarizes the contents of a book likewise as some commentary concerning the writer'south opinion of the book.

Critical analysis/critique–writing an informed review and an analysis of the significance of a piece of writing or an event.

Bibliography–writing a full list of all resources consulted during a inquiry project.

Annotated bibliography–writing not just a list of all resource consulted for a enquiry project, but also including a summary and analysis of each resource.

Literature review–writing that focuses on a specific research topic and the critical aspects of the literature consulted during the enquiry procedure.

Research paper–the last product following an extended period of enquiry, disquisitional thinking, and composition that encompasses the writer's own ideas supported by a combination of main and secondary sources.

Due east-mail–writing in email

Web writing–writing web content, which needs to be direct, concise, and credible.

Oral presentation of written written report–developing an effective summary of a projection to be delivered in front of an audience; may include visual aids.

Midterm/final test essay–exams oftentimes include short essay questions that need to exist written in a short corporeality of fourth dimension.

Resume & other 'business concern' writing–writing that must communicate pertinent data in a concise, easy-to-read format.

Fundamental Takeaways

• All writers rely on steps and strategies to begin the writing process.
• The steps in the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising, editing/proofreading, and publishing.
• Prewriting is the transfer of ideas from abstract thoughts into words, phrases, and sentences on paper.
• A good topic interests the writer, appeals to the audience, and fits the purpose of the assignment.  Writers often cull a general topic outset and then narrow the focus to a more specific topic.
• A strong thesis statement is key to having a focused and unified essay.
• Crude drafts are opportunities to get ideas down onto paper to get a commencement wait at how your ideas will work together.
• Revising improves your writing equally far as supporting ideas, arrangement, sentence menses, and word choices.
• Editing spots and corrects any errors in grammer, mechanics, spelling, and formatting.
• Regardless of the type of assignment you may exist given in college or in piece of work, it benefits you to follow a writing process, to put in the piece of work necessary to understand your subject and audience, and to communicate your ideas confidently and coherently.

CC Licensed Content, Shared Previously

English Composition I , Lumen Learning, CC-BY 4.0.

Rhetoric and Composition , John Barrett, et al., CC-By-SA 3.0.

Writing for Success, CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Image Credits

Figure 4.1 "The Writing Proces," Kalyca Schultz, Virginia Western Community Higher, CC-0, .

Figure iv.2 "Clustering," Kalyca Schultz, Virginia Western Community College, CC-0.

Figure four.3 "Traditional Formal Outline," Kalyca Schultz, Virginia Western Community College, CC-0.

Effigy iv.4 "The Essay Structure," Kalyca Schultz, Virginia Western Community College, CC-0.

Effigy 4.v "Point of View," Kalyca Schultz, Virginia Western Community College, CC-0.

newtoncalice1963.blogspot.com

Source: https://vwcceng111.pressbooks.com/chapter/chapter-4-the-writing-process/

Share this post