Writing is a recursive process, a series of non-linear steps to reach a finished product.
These steps may be approached in different ways under varying circumstances.
However, the writing process generally consists of four primary stages in the following order: prewriting, drafting, revising, and proofreading.
Stages of the Writing Process:
Prewriting
Prewriting is everything you do before you begin to draft the paper. Looking over the assignment, choosing and narrowing your topic, and assessing audience and purpose are usually considered part of this process. Research may also be included in prewriting.
You can use different prewriting strategies to help you choose and develop a topic:
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Brainstorm lists of ideas on a topic
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Read, annotate sources, and take notes on a topic
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Freewrite ideas on a topic
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Cluster (make a visual map of ideas related to a topic)
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Ask questions about a topic: Who? Where? When? What? How? Why?
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Discuss with others ideas about a topic and take notes
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Make an outline of your paper
As you consider your topic, be sure to narrow it enough to fit the assignment. To do this, consider possible purposes in writing the paper: to express, to inform, to explore, to analyze, to persuade, and/or to entertain. Identifying your purpose for writing the paper will clarify for readers what you plan to accomplish and will help you develop a working thesis, where you state your opinion about the topic and identify the scope of the paper.
You should also consider your audience before you begin to write. You can identify your audience by answering the following questions:
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Whom am I directing this paper at?
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How much does my audience know about my topic?
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How do they feel about my topic? Enthusiastic? Neutral? Hostile?
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What personal characteristics (age, gender, culture, socioeconomic background, values, politics, etc.) might affect their views on my paper?
Once you’ve narrowed your topic, identified your purpose and audience, developed a working thesis, and organized and expanded your ideas, you’re ready to draft the paper.
Drafting:
Drafting is the stage when you put the paper in paragraph form. The five elements and/or criteria necessary for a reader to understand your paper are as follows:
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Thesis statement : This sentence typically appears at the end of your introduction and clearly states your opinion on your topic and the purpose of your essay.
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Topic sentences : Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence which states the main idea of that paragraph and helps the reader understand how it’s logically

connected to the thesis. Like the thesis statement, the topic sentence identifies what the reader can reasonably expect the paragraph to contain.
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Sufficient support : Support each topic sentence by developing the body of the paragraph with supporting details. Supporting details come in many different forms: statistics, researched information, observations, real life examples, descriptions, case studies, interviews, personal experience, hypothetical situations, definitions, expert opinions, etc. The more specific the information, the more interesting and effective the paragraph.
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Coherence : An essay is coherent if each paragraph relates to the one before it and all sentences are logically connected. Transitional words and phrases help create bridges between sentences. These include however , in addition , in other words , consequently , for example , in contrast , nevertheless , etc. Repeating key words also helps create bridges between sentences and paragraphs. You introduce key words for an essay in the thesis and for a paragraph in the topic sentence.
 Unity : Avoid digressing from the main idea of the paper. Make sure all sentences relate to the topic sentence and all paragraphs relate to the thesis.
While drafting, try to include these elements in your essay. However, don’t expect to get them exactly right the first time. This is where revision comes in.
Revising:
Revising means adding, deleting, and rearranging information. You can begin by verifying that the logic and organization of the essay matches that of the thesis, that each paragraph has a topic sentence, that there are transitions between paragraphs, and that you didn’t digress from the main idea anywhere in the paper. If you did, you may need to delete information. Also, do you have sufficient support in each paragraph, and is the support specific enough? If not, you may need to conduct more research and add information. Are the paragraphs arranged in the most logical way? If not, you may need to rearrange them. The revision process is often a major overhaul; in fact, your second draft may look much different than your first draft. The effectiveness of your first draft depends on how prepared you were to write the paper. So prewriting is more important than you might think.
If you have not done your research, you may find it necessary to go back to prewriting during revision. This is an example of the recursive nature of the writing process.
Proofreading or Editing:
During this stage of the writing process, check the paper for spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and other mechanical errors. For a research paper, you must also check for accurate and correct documentation. If you don’t know the punctuation rules or research paper format, ask for help at the TAMIU Writing Center.
Source: “The Writing Process.” Madison Area Technical College Virtual Writing Center.
<http://matcmadison.edu/is/writingcenter/the_writing_process.htm>