6: The Writing Process
- Page ID
- 328465
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Often when students are put into a rhetorical situation, that is, asked to write something, they expect to be able to write an excellent paper in one sitting. It is as if they expect a divine muse to provide the perfect words that will flow easily from beginning to end. This doesn’t even happen with professional writers. Sometimes, yes, the words flow easily and you finish quickly, but most of the time writing is a process that requires much thinking, writing, and re-writing.
If it’s so difficult, why do it? There are many reasons. Writing can help you understand and learn the information in a text. Writing can also be a way to express ideas or emotions. Often we don’t really know what we think or feel about something until we write about it. And of course, writing is used to communicate. We write for understanding, to convince, to share, and many other reasons. Whatever your reason is, the best way to write effectively is to use the writing process.
If writing is a process, what does that mean?
Basically, writing is expressing ideas. The end result isn’t as important as the undertaking. Realistically, if others are going to read what we write, then the end product does need to be clear and effective, and in school, this also includes evaluation and grading. Nevertheless, writing can be satisfying, especially if you use your peer’s or instructor’s feedback as ways to improve what you’re doing, writing.
You should use the writing process every time you write, even if it is not for school. You can use the acronym POWER* to remember the steps to effective and powerful writing. The letters POWER stand for pre-writing, organizing, writing, evaluating, and revising.
Chapter Goals:
1. Use the acronym POWER to list the parts of the writing process.
2. Understand what it means to prepare your writing by examining the audience, purpose, and assignment.
3. Explore several methods of invention.
4. Understand the difference between a working thesis and a final thesis statement.
5. Explore several methods of organizing an essay.
6. Reflect on the drafting process.
7. Learn some techniques for giving feedback in a peer review.
8. Realize that the process of revising is more than fixing errors.
*Copyright: LauraLee Miller