Chapter 2
A Walk Through the Writing
Process
The Process of Writing
 Prewriting is the stage in which you explore
possible topics, choose a topic, and then gather
details you can include in your writing.
 Drafting involves putting ideas down on paper in a
rough format.
 Revising is the stage in which you rework your
rough draft to improve both its form and its
content.
 Editing and Proofreading are the stages in which
you polish your writing, fixing errors in grammar,
spelling, and mechanics.
 Publishing and presenting are the sharing of your
writing.
Prewriting
 Choosing Your Topic
 Invisible Ink Method – start writing about

ANYTHING without looking
Find your interests
 Narrowing Your Topic
 Using a web or a THINKING MAP
 Considering Your Audience and Purpose
 Audience: Who are you writing to?
 Purpose: What do you hope to accomplish?
 Gathering Details
 5W’s + H
 Hexagonal Chart
Drafting
 Shaping Your Writing
 Focus on the Form
 Narration – Tells a Story
 Persuasion – Convinces
 Exposition – Explains
 Argument – Attempts to prove a point
 Providing Elaboration
 SEE Method:
 Statement
 Extension
 Elaboration
Types of Writing
 Modes of Writing:
 Narration, Description, Persuasion, Exposition,
Research Writing, Response to Literature,
Writing for Assessment and Workplace Writing
 Reflexive Writing:
 Refers to writing for which you choose the
subject and the form
 Extensive Writing:
 Is writing for which you are given a subject or
range of subjects.
Revising
 Using a Systematic Approach
 Ratiocination – logical thinking
 Color coding
 Big picture to Small Picture
 Revising your Overall Structure
 Highlighting for evaluation
 Revising your paragraphs
 Color-coding
 Revising your sentences
 List all the first words
 Delete repeats
Revising continued
 Revising word choice
 Be sure your words are what you want to say
 Circling repeated words
 Peer Review
 Focus your peer reviewer
 Target questions
 Evaluate the peer responses
 Ask for clarification
Editing and Proofreading

Address:
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Spelling
Grammar
Usage
Mechanics
Accuracy
Legibility
Proofreading marks
Publishing and Presenting

Moving Forward

Building your portfolio


Save your work
Reflecting on your writing

Learn and Grow
Chapter 3
Sentences, Paragraphs, and
Compositions
WHAT ARE THOSEEEEE?????
 Sentence – a group of words with two
main parts: a subject and a predicate
 Paragraph – a group of sentences that
share a common topic and work
together as a unit of expression
 Composition – paragraphs are
organized around a main idea
Sentence Combining
 THE FEWER – THE BETTER
 Inserting Words:
 Example: Earthquakes can be terrifying events.

They are produced by nature.
Word Insertion: Earthquakes can be terrifying
natural events.
 Inserting Phrases:
 Example: The surface of the Earth is a layer of

rock. We call this layer of the Earth the crust.
Phrase: The surface of the Earth, called the
crust, is a layer of rock.
Using Compound Elements

Uses FANBOYS:


For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Examples on page 30
Compound Sentences

Independent clause – one that can stand by
itself as a complete sentence.

The girl swung on a wrecking ball.

Subordination/Dependent clause – one that
NEEDS an independent clause to be
complete.

Examples on page 32


FRAGMENT: When she was young.
When she was young, the girl swung on a
wrecking ball.
Writing a Topic Sentence

Presents the main point of the paragraph

Frames or sets up for the supporting details
in the paragraph
Writing Supporting Sentences

It should support your topic sentence

To support your idea, use:
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Facts
Statistics
Examples
Illustrations
Instances
Placing Your Topic Sentence:

Topic, Restatement, Illustration
Unity and Coherence

Unity – all the parts of the paragraphs are
related to on single key idea

THESIS STATEMENT: Main idea of your
essay/composition

Coherence – page 38
Parts of a Composition/Essay

Introduction

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
Includes Thesis statement
Body


Has some interesting claim
Supports the thesis statement
Conclusion

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Restates the thesis
Summarizes the major points
Effective conclusion – ends with a striking
image or thought
Types of Paragraphs

Topical Paragraph – group of sentences that
support one main sentence

Functional paragraphs – serve a specific
purpose

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To create emphasis
To indicate dialogue
To make a transition
Paragraph blocks – Paragraphs can be
broken up to support one idea
Writing Style

Developing Style
 Sentence Variety
 Diction
 Tone

Formal English
 Do not use slang
 Avoid Contractions
 Use standard English and grammar

Informal English
 Use contractions
 Use slang and popular expressions
HAVE FUN WITH
YOUR WRITING