The Writing Process
Purdue OWL staff
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab
How Do We Write?
We…
Invent
Compose
Revise
Invention
How to…?
Invent
Invention
Create a writing schedule based on the writing assignment:
Argument Paper
5-7 pages, Times New Roman 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins.
Minimum of five cited sources: 3 must be from academic journals or books
Outline due: 10/17; Draft due: 10/24; Final Draft due: 10/30
Sample schedule:
Invention
Before you start to write ask questions to explore your
rhetorical situation:
 Purpose?
 Audience?
 Genre?
 Style?
 Research?
Invention Strategies
Ask more critical questions
Explore classic topics
Ask stasis questions
Use tagmemics
Freewrite & brainstorm
Record ideas without
revising or proofreading
Map & cluster
Invent and organize ideas
visually to explore
relationships, processes
Keep a journal
Write personal explorations
and reflections on ideas
Composing
How to…?
Compose
How Do We Write?
Conduct research
Narrow the topic
Develop the thesis
Organize ideas
Write the first draft
Creating an Outline
I. Introduction
A. Set the context
B. Explain why the topic is important
C. State the thesis
II. Body
A. Build points
B. Develop ideas
C. Support the main claim
III. Conclusion
A. Reemphasize the main idea
B. Restate the thesis
Revising
How to…?
Revise
Revising
Review
Revise
Proofread
Revising
Reviewing guide
 Clear thesis?
 Clear ideas?
 Organization of the paper
• From general to specific
• Information to support the thesis?
 Paragraph structure?
 Supporting details?
 Conclusion restates the thesis and overviews the
main ideas
Revising
Reviewing strategies
Refocus
Reorder
Add
Delete
Revising
Proofreading guide




The paper appears professional?
Spelling and punctuation?
Sentences clear and easy to read?
Documentation style (MLA, APA, etc.)?
Revising
Proofreading strategies
Spellcheck /
Grammar check
Read your
paper aloud
Talk to your
instructor
Note: Spellchecks and grammar checks do not
identify all the errors in a paper.
Go to the
writing lab
Recap:
How Do We Write?
We…
Invent
Compose
Revise
Where to Go
for More Help
Purdue University Writing Lab, Heavilon 226
Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Email brief questions to OWL Mail:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/contact/owlmailtutors
The End
THE WRITING PROCESS
Purdue OWL staff
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab