Writing with Style Writing and Style Manual 
Poway Unified School District  

Writing with Style | Elements of Written Communication | The Writing Process |
Writing Modes| Forms of Writing | Organizing Your Writing  |
 Formal and Informal Style
The Basic Structure of an Academic Essay | Writing on Demand
The Research Process | MLA Format

THE WRITING PROCESS

There are five basic stages that we go through when we write. They are:  

1.      Pre-writing 2.      Drafting 3.      Revising 4.      Editing 5.      Publishing

However, it is very important to realize that these are stages, not independent steps.  Depending on the writing task and the situation, you may follow these stages in order from start to finish, or you might find yourself going back and revisiting these stages several times before you are done.  Also, you will not take every piece of writing you do through all of these stages.  See The Writing Center at Cleveland State University for an interactive diagram with help for each stage of this writing process. http://www.csuohio.edu/writingcenter/writproc.html

Stage 1:       Pre-writing

Before you sit down to write something, you need to figure out what you are going to write about.  Most of us start with a topic, and then decide what we have to say about this topic.  For an essay, you might generate a “working thesis” or a main idea that you would like to explore, and then start collecting information and ideas that relate to that idea. 

Ways to generate ideas:

• freewrite or use a journal
• collect and review class or reading notes
• review assignments and discussion questions
• use graphic organizers, like Venn diagrams
• participate in class or small group discussions
• talk out ideas with a partner

• determine who, what, where, when, why, and how
• determine what you already know and what you still need to learn about your topic
• do some research to learn more information

  Hint:  Using colored sticky notes, note cards, or highlighters can help keep you organized! Use a different color for each topic and note important information as you read.

Ways to plan your writing:    

• create a cluster, diagram, or web
• make an outline
• identify pros and cons
• list supporting arguments
• sort and organize note cards by topic  

Stage 2:       Drafting

Once you have planned out your ideas, the next step is to start drafting, or writing. As you write, keep referring back to your notes and the plan that you determined in stage 1, but don’t be afraid to change the plan when needed.  During the drafting stage, you should concentrate on organizing your information logically, and developing your topic with enough detail for your audience and purpose. (see Organizing Writing for more on organizing and developing your ideas).

As you work, keep the following things in mind:  

Drafts are for the writer:

  Our brain processes information as we write things down.  You will find yourself making connections and discovering new ideas as you are writing your first drafts.  When this happens, you should go back to the planning stage (stage 1) to work in these new ideas. You may even need to change your thesis or the angle you are taking on the topic.

  Drafts are not perfect:  

Because you are really drafting for yourself, to understand your ideas and put them into words, you might be unhappy with your early results.  Don’t agonize over every word and sentence because you’ll give yourself writer’s block!  You will never send off a draft to your audience without at least SOME sort of revision or at least editing.  Just get some words down on paper even if they sound silly or awkward. You can always go back and fix it later – that’s what revision is for.  

Drafting takes time:

The more complicated your writing task is, the more time you should allow yourself for drafting.  As you discover new ideas and connections, you need the time to incorporate them into your plan!  Don’t procrastinate, and don’t feel that you have to finish your whole paper in one sitting

Stage 3:       Revising 

What is revision?

If drafting is for the writer, revision is for the reader.  During revision you consider your writing from your audience’s point of view.  In fact, to revise means literally to “re-see” or “re-look” at your writing. When you revise, you are looking at the parts of your document and making sure that each part works together to make a coherent whole.  You may need to change the order of your information, expand on certain sections, or cut details in others.  Often, you will need to go back to the drafting stage and re-work parts of your paper. Revising is NOT editing!  Save the spelling, grammar, and sentence fixes for later. 

Most writers find it helpful to have someone else read their writing at this stage. A reader who is unfamiliar with your document can help you identify which parts are working and which parts are still unclear.

Revising for Audience:  

·        Is the level of detail appropriate for your audience (not too general or too specific)?  

·        Are your ideas presented in a logical order that will be evident to the reader?

·        Do you use clear transitions to help the reader follow your train of thought?

·        Are your sentences clear and specific?  Do you say what you mean, and mean what you say?

·        Is your tone and style appropriate for your audience?

Revising for Purpose:  

·        Is your purpose clearly stated for the reader?

·        Do you clearly maintain that purpose throughout the document?

·        Does all of your supporting information clearly relate to your purpose?

·        Do you organize your ideas to best fulfill your purpose?

Revising for Form:  

·        Do you follow the established form for the document you are writing

·        Do you separate ideas into paragraphs with clear topic sentences?

·        Do you maintain a balance among your points, developing each to the same extent?

NOTE:          Stages 1-3 are not independent steps but rather stages within a cyclical process. Good writers move back and forth between planning, drafting, and revising many times during the course of creating a single document.

Stage 4:       Editing

While revision focuses mainly on making your content clear for your reader, editing focuses on making your document meet the conventions of standard written English.  During the editing stage, check the following:

•  grammar 

•  sentence structure 

•   word choice 

•   punctuation 

•  capitalization

•  spelling

• citation and document format

See the sections on Solving Writing Problems, Mechanics, and MLA Format for specifics.

Stage 5:       Publishing 

Writing is communication—if you have written something down, must have intended someone to read it, even if that person is only yourself. When you publish a document, you are releasing it to the public for others to read. Not all of your writing will be taken through the publishing stage, but even turning a paper in to your teacher constitutes “publishing.” Ways to publish your writing include:

• Turning in a paper to your teacher
• Entering an essay contest
• Sending a letter to the editor
• Writing for your school newspaper, yearbook, or literary magazine
• Posting a piece of writing on the Internet
• Writing a letter to a public official or company

updated 01/07/03 D.Hogan