Essay Writing Process

Essay Writing Process

1. 1. Prewriting: It is a critical first step, and you should spend 25% of your time prewriting and organizing, 50% of your time writing, and 25% of your time revising and editing

   • Prewiting Strategies
     • 1. Freewriting: The key is to keep on writing without regard for grammar, spelling, or worthiness of ideas.
       • Do not look back at what you have already wrote.
         • Keep on writing even if you go off topic.
           • Do not censor yoursefl, since is not going to be seen by others write everything that comes into your mind.
             • Follow your ideas to wherever they lead you
               • When finished read your freewriting and highlight the most interesting and strongest ideas.
     • 2. Brainstorming or LIstening: Create a list of ideas of a giving topic.
       • List every word or phrase that come to mind about your topic. If you have not selected a topic answer the following questions, ¨What do I have to say to my audience?¨ or ¨What do I want my audience to know about me?¨.
         • Like freewriting, do not censor or edit any ideas, and ignore grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
     • 3. Concept Mapping/Webbing: they are visual organizers that allow you to investigate the relationships between a number of diverse ideas.
     • 4. Questioning: If you are writing a research paper or a non personal writing and your topic is already assigned.
       • Concentrate on the standards W´s: What,When, Where, When, and Why.
         • Unlike other prewriting techniques, do not rush or include every idea that comes to mind.

2. 2. Organization Methods: Prewriting note need organization before the writing of a first draft.

   • Outline: First, group related ideas together, looking for major topics and minor topics. Define your major ponits, and rearrange them until they make sense and follow a logical progression.
     • Write down your overall goal for your essay.
       • Go over your outline and circle, underline, or highlight your major points. Do they they all support your goal?
         • Brainstorm words or phrases that will accurately and concisely express those points
           • Use this list and your outline to guide your writing.
   • Pyramid chart: As you reread your prewriting notes , answer the following:
     • What is the purpose of my essay as a whole?
     • What are the major parts of the whole, and how can they ne categorized?
     • What are the minor parts of the whole, and how do they relate to the major parts?
     • What details can I use to illuminate both the major and minor parts?
   • The answer to the first question is your thesis. Place it at the top of the pyramid. Below it, write the major parts. Next, Write the minor parts beneath the major ones. Finally, details should be added under the parts to which they correspond
   • List: Organize your notes into a list based on one of the following strategies:
     • Order of Importance: Rank ideas from most important to least important , or vice versa.
     • Chronological: Organize your ideas in order in which they did happen or will happen.
     • General State supporting details, then the main point, or vice versa.

3. 3. Drafting:

   • The Opening Paragraph: It is important to grab the readers attention at this point,since it determines if you go on reading or not. Do not generalize by using enty statements that could be applied to many topics; rather it is necessary to engage the reader with the topic from the very first sentence.
   • The Body of the Essay: Paragraphs are the mean by which you order the material. Try deal with only one key point or aspect of your topic only per paragraph
     • Process to follow in order to write a good paragraph: 1. The topic sentence should be at the beginning of the paragraph. 2. After your topic sentence, you have to justify your topic by giving details, facts, and/or examples. 3. The concluding sentence, should summarize what has been included within the paragraph.
   • The Closing Paragraph: The function of the closing paragraph is to summarize what you have written before by paraphrasing it. It will be the final impression you make before the assessor grades your essay.
     • Phrases you can use: As I have argued..., Based on this evidence..., As a conclusion..., To sum up..., or To conclude...

4. 4. Revising, Editing, and Proofreading

   • 1. How to Revise
     • 1. Put down your essay, and do not look at it for at least one day before revising.
     • 2. Read It Outloud.
     • 3. Note your reaction to the essay, and answer the following
       • Does the content of your essay address or match the topic_
       • Does the first paragraph include a clear thesis statement and includes the major points of the essay?
       • Are the topic sentences supported by examples and details, and are all of the details necessary
       • Does your writing strike the rigth balance between formality and informality?
       • Will your essay help you stand out? Is it memorable and interesting?
       • Would the reader(s) understand everything you have written, or are some points in need of clarification?
       • Does your writing flow? Does it follow logical progression?
       • Is the introduction a good ¨hook¨that draws the reader into the essay?
       • Does your conclusion make sense after the preceding paragraphs? is it strong?
     • 4. Make any necessary modifications, and be willing to add and/or remove writing that is not working.
   • 2.How to Edit: You read each paragraph of your essay a number of times, paying attention to your sentences and words that compromise them
     • You edit word by word an should have your pencil ready to circle any problems as you encounter them. you may also write on the margin a quick note on how to improve the problem.
       • Do I repeat myself?
       • Do I have enough details?
       • Do I reinforce each point with a concrete and/or personal example
       • Is my sentence structure varied?
       • Are there any clichés or other types of overused language?
       • Do I use the active voice whenever possible?
       • Are there too many or too few adjectives and adverbs?
       • Are verb tense consistent?
       • Is the Antecedent for every pronoun clear¡
   • 3. How to Proofread
     • Take your time. Wait twenty minute before proofreading.
     • Read Backwards. read from the last to the first word focusing on word by word.
     • Ask for help. A pair of fresh eyes may find mistakes that you have overlooked dozen of times