Transcript The Writing Process

The Writing Process
1. Exploring (consider your topic, audience, and purpose)
2. Developing (narrow your topic, use a prewriting strategy,
select and discard ideas, and make a plan or outline)
3. Drafting (write your first draft)
4. Sharing (get feedback from your classmates)
5. Revising (check unity, support, coherence, and style)
6. Editing (proofread for grammar, spelling, punctuation,
and mechanical errors)
7. Publishing (write your final draft)
8. Assessing (see what you did well and what you need to
work on)
Exploring
 Topic (interest, knowledge, and/or arouse emotions)
 Audience (intended readers, knowledge, expectations)
 Purpose (entertain, persuade, and/or inform)
Developing – Narrowing your topic
Travel
London (*specify)
Study abroad trip in 2005 (*specify again)
Fantastic! (*modify)
[*reasons why it was “fantastic”]
Developing – Prewriting strategies
 Freewriting (write without stopping for a period of time)
 Brainstorming (create a list of ideas)
 Clustering (draw a word map)
*Notes: (1) Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or any other
mistakes. (2) You can do both general and focused
prewriting (e.g. families > mistakes parents make).
Developing – Freewriting (*fears)
Developing – Brainstorming (*families)
Developing – Clustering (*movies)
Essays
 Title (gives a hint about the essay’s topic)
 Introduction (introduces the essay’s topic)
 Thesis statement (contains the essay’s topic and
controlling idea)
 Body paragraphs (begin with a topic sentence that
supports the thesis statement and contain details that
support the topic sentence)
 Conclusion (brings the essay to a satisfactory close)
Thesis statements
Topic = who or what the essay is about
Controlling idea = writer’s opinion, attitude, or feeling
Plan of development = preview of the body paragraphs
Examples:
1.Mahatma Gandhi was an influential leader.
2.Email is a great way to stay in touch with your family.
3.The Korean subway system is very efficient, clean, and safe.
4.My older brother is wise, intelligent, and savvy.
5.Being a twin has many advantages.
Thesis statements – Common errors
1. Incomplete (Allergies: so annoying.)
2. More than one idea (There are many types of allergens,
and allergies affect people in different ways.)
3. Announcement (I will write about computers.)
4. Too broad (Love is great.)
5. Too narrow (My girlfriend was born on March 2nd.)
6. Vague (Censorship is a big problem.)
7. Obvious (The Internet is important.)
8. Invalid (Beauty is more important than it was in the past.)
Supporting ideas
 Body paragraphs must develop and prove the validity of the
thesis statement
 Each body paragraph has a topic sentence that expresses
the main idea of the paragraph. Like a thesis statement, a
topic sentence must have a controlling idea. Details and
examples support the topic sentence.
 Ask yourself the following questions after making a list of
supporting ideas: (1) Which ideas could I develop into a
complete paragraph? (2) Does each idea support my thesis?
Organizing your ideas
 Time order (arrange details according to the sequence in
which they have occurred)
 Emphatic order (arrange details in a logical sequence –
e.g. least to most important, most appealing to least
appealing, etc.)
 Space order (help the reader visualize what you are
describing in a specific place – e.g. top to bottom, left to
right, near to far, etc.)
Essay plan
Introductions –The Lead-in
Grab your reader’s attention with a:
Quotation
Surprising or provocative statement
Question
Introductions – Styles
 Give general or historical background information
 Tell an interesting anecdote
 Describe something in vivid detail
 Define a term
 Present a contrasting position
 Pose several questions
Body paragraphs
 Begin with a topic sentence (topic and controlling idea)
 Flesh out supporting ideas
 Make sure each idea is complete
 Do not offer vague generalizations
 Refrain from repeating ideas
 Provide evidence by using specific details – examples,
facts, statistics, anecdotes, quotations
Conclusions – Ways
 Summary (main ideas)
 Prediction
 Suggestion
 Quotation
 Call to action
Conclusions – Avoid problems
 Do not contradict your main point
 Do not introduce new or irrelevant information
Revising and editing
 Revise for unity (all parts of the essay relate to the main
idea)
 Revise for adequate support (ideas effectively support
the main idea)
 Revise for coherence (ideas flow smoothly and logically)
 Revise for style (sentences are varied and interesting)
 Edit for technical errors (grammar, spelling, mechanics,
and punctuation)
Review: Five-paragraph Essays
1. Explore (topic, audience, purpose)
2. Develop (narrowed topic and prewriting)
3. Draft (introduction – lead-in and thesis statement , body
paragraphs – order and specific details, conclusion)
4. Share (peer review)
5. Revise (unity, adequate support, coherence, style)
6. Edit (technical errors)
7. Publish (final draft)
8. Assess (self-evaluation – strengths and weaknesses)
Essay Patterns
Methods used to express one of three purposes – to inform,
to persuade, to entertain
 Illustration
 Narration
 Description
 Process
 Argumentation
 Classification
 Comparison and contrast
 Cause and effect
 Definition
Illustration
To illustrate or prove a point using specific examples (e.g.
personal experiences, observations, factual information,
statistics, etc.), which helps the reader acquire a clearer,
deeper understanding of an essay’s subject
Series of examples
Extended example
Sentence Variety
1. Combine sentences (simple, compound and complex)
2. Questions, quotations, exclamations
3. Vary opening words (adverb or prepositional phrase)
4. Combine sentences with a present participle
5. Combine sentences with a past participle
6. Combine sentences with an appositive
Narration
To narrate or tell a story about a sequence of events that
happened
Setting (location where the action happens)
Theme (basic idea of the story – e.g. greed, envy, love, etc.)
Mood (feeling or mood the writer creates for the story)
Characters (people in the story)
Plot (what happens in the story – sequence of events)
Narration
 Introduction (begins the story – setting, characters, action to
come)
 Hook (grabs reader’s attention – make them guess what will
happen next)
 Thesis (introduces the action that begins in the first paragraph)
 Body paragraphs (contain specific details of the plot in time
order – each ending in a transitional sentence)
 Conclusion (finishes describing the action in the essay – final
sentence can deliver the moral of the story, tell the reader what
the character/characters learned from the story, or make a
prediction or a revelation about future actions that will happen
as a result of events in the story)
Fragments and run-ons
1. Phrase fragments (missing a subject or verb)
2. Fragments with –ing and to (begin with a present participle)
3. Explanatory fragments (missing a subject, complete verb, or both)
4. Dependent-clause fragments (has a subject and verb but can’t
stand alone)
5. Fused run-ons (no punctuation to mark the break between ideas)
6. Comma splice run-ons (uses a comma incorrectly to connect two
complete ideas)
Description
Description creates vivid images in the reader’s mind by portraying
people, places, or moments in detail. When you write a descriptive
essay, focus on three main points:
Create a dominant impression (overall atmosphere you wish to
convey – e.g. strong feeling, mood, image: Sunday afternoon
party > relaxed ambience in the room)
Express your attitude toward the subject (positive or negative –
e.g. pleasure from last vacation > express great feelings about it)
Include concrete details (help the reader visualize the person,
place, or moment by using active verbs, adjectives, and adverbs,
and by using imagery to appeal to the five senses – sight, sound,
smell, touch, taste)
Description
 Introduction (introduce or set the stage for the description;
engage interest with background information)
 Thesis statement (convey a dominant impression or feeling
about the subject – e.g. The photograph of me as a ten-year-old
has an embarrassing story behind it.)
 Body paragraphs (show vs. tell – e.g. Our neighbor, Mr. Leon, a
grim-faced, retired seventy-year-old grandfather, always
snapped at the neighborhood children, telling us not to play street
hockey, not to make so much noise, and not to throw the ball near
his roses. When it came to important matters, however, he was
always supportive of us. Mr. Leon taught all the local youths to
ride bikes. He used to walk along beside us holding on to the cycle
as we wobbled down the sidewalk. One day, we learned that Mr.
Leon had been donating fifty bicycles to the local children’s
charity annually for many years./Mr. Leon was a very kind man.)
Description
 Figurative devises: (1) simile – a comparison using like or as > My
thoughts ran as fast as a cheetah. (2) metaphor – a comparison
that does not use like or as > Love is sweet-and-sour soup.
(3)
personification – the act of attributing human qualities to an
inanimate object or an animal > The chocolate cake winked
invitingly at us.
 Conclusion (summarize your main points and/or bring your
description to a satisfactory close)
Process
A process is a series of steps usually done in chronological
order. In process writing, you explain how to do something,
how an incident took place, or how something works.
In terms of purpose, there are two types of process essays:
(1) Complete a process (contains directions on how to
complete a particular task)
(2) Understand a process (explains how something works or
something happens)
Process
Introduction
1. Grab the reader’s attention with an interesting hook
2. Begin focusing on the process by defining it or explaining
why it is important
3. Write a thesis statement that tells your readers what they
will be able to do after reading your essay – one that
includes a clear topic and controlling idea (e.g. Remaining
attractive to your spouse can help keep your relationship
exciting./Consistency, patience, and time are essential to
becoming a good parent.)
Process
Thesis statement patterns
Process
Body paragraphs
List the main steps that are necessary to complete the process
in chronological/time order – for example:
“How to plan a great vacation”
1. Decide what your goal is
2. Research possible locations
3. Figure out costs and make a budget
4. Plan the itinerary according to the budget
Process
Transition signals
Process
Conclusion
1. Summarize the main steps
2. Review why the process is important
3. Add any final thoughts to wrap up your essay
Parallel structure
Parallel structure occurs when pairs or groups of items in a
sentence are balanced
Nouns: Books, stores, and catalogs give gardeners information.
Tenses: Gardeners dig and plant in the soil.
Adjectives: Kew Garden is large, colorful, and breathtaking.
Phrases: You will find the public garden down the road, over the
bridge, and through the field.
Clauses: There are some gardens that have just trees, and some
that have only flowers and plants.
Correcting faulty parallel structure
 Series of words or phrases (nouns and verbs)
 Paired clauses (that or who)
 Comparisons (–ing forms and noun phrases)
 Two-part constructions (adjectives and verbs)
Argumentation
In an argumentative essay, the writer’s purpose is to persuade
the reader of an opinion about something.
Remember four key points:
(1)Consider your readers
(2)Know your purpose
(3)Take a strong position
(4)Show that you are trustworthy
Classification
When you classify, you divide a large group into smaller and more
understandable categories.
To find a topic for a classification essay, think of something that you can
sort or divide into different groups. Also, determine a reason for
classifying the items. When you are planning your ideas for a
classification essay, remember the following points:
Use a common classification principle (overall method that you use to
sort the subject into categories > jobs – dangerous jobs)
Sort the subject into distinct categories (dangerous jobs – public security,
construction, hazardous materials)
Say something meaningful (justify why each category is significant)
Classification
Introduction: (1) Use a hook (2) Provide background information (3) Explain
the purpose for the classification (4) Write a thesis statement
Thesis statement: Mentions the categories of the subject and contains a
controlling idea – i.e. your classification principle/the overall method you
will use to sort the items.
There are three very effective types of bank-machine crimes: no-tech, lowtech, and high-tech.
Children learn gender roles through the family, the school, and the media.
Supporting ideas: Each body paragraph covers one category.
Conclusion: (1) Restate the method of classification (2) Summarize the
groups
Subject-verb agreement
Subject-verb agreement means that a subject and verb agree in
number. A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural
subject needs a plural verb.
Singular subject: Mr. Smith teaches at Hankuk University of
Foreign Studies.
Plural subject: All of his GSE EW2 students are brilliant writers. 
Comparison and Contrast
When you want to decide between options, you compare and contrast.
You compare to find similarities and contrast to find differences.
There are two common patterns for comparison and contrast essays:
Topic by topic/Subject by Subject: Present all of your points about one
topic/subject, and then present all of your points about the second
topic/subject. Offer one side and then the other side, just as opposing
lawyers would do in the closing arguments of a court case.
Point by point: Present one point about Topic A, and then present the
same point about Topic B. Keep following the pattern until you have a
few points for each topic. Go back and forth from one side to the other
like tennis players hitting a ball back and forth across a net.
Pronouns
Pronouns are words that replace nouns, other pronouns, and phrases.
Use pronouns to avoid repeating nouns.
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect writing explains why an event happened or what the
consequences of such an event were. A cause and effect essay can focus
on causes, effects, or both.
When you write a cause and effect essay, focus on two main tasks:
(1)Indicate whether you are focusing on causes, effects, or both
(2)Make sure that your causes and effects are valid (not just list things
that happened before or after the event) and verify that your
assumptions are logical (e.g. “Our furnace stopped working because the
weather was too cold.” vs. “Our furnace stopped working because the
filters needed replacing and the gas burners needed adjusting.”)
Cause and Effect
Thesis statement: (1) Clearly demonstrate whether the focus is on causes,
effects, or both (2) Make sure that you state a controlling idea that
expresses your point of view.
“There are many reasons for global warming.” (causes)
“Global warming may have a profound influence on our lifestyles.” (effects)
“Global warming, which has developed for many reasons, may have a
profound influence on our lifestyles.” (causes and effects)
Patterns: (1) There are several causes of/reasons for/effects of ___ (2) There
are three/four/several main reasons why ___ (3) ___ has had several/many/a
few important effects on ___ (4) ___, which . . . for several/many/a few
reasons, could/may/might ___.
Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect
Supporting ideas:
Think of specific facts, examples, statistics, or quotations that clearly
show the causes and effects
Highlight multiple causes and effects (as a cause can have many effects
and an effect can have many causes – e.g. the effects of construction of a
shopping plaza on a quiet street may include increased traffic congestion,
more automobile accidents, a boost in taxes paid by local governments,
more part-time jobs for teenagers, and the need for additional police
protection)
Identify underlying causes and effects (i.e. those beneath the surface –
e.g. an obvious effect of being the youngest child in a family is being
considered “the baby,” while the underlying effects could include the
youngest coming to view himself or herself as less capable, less mature,
and less strong as a result of being considered “the baby’)
Cause and Effect
 Prove that something is a cause or effect (i.e. provide evidence >
convince your reader by showing not telling – e.g. do a survey or cite
percentages from a newspaper or book)
 Identify immediate (near the time of an event) and remote (in a more
distant time) causes (e.g. shortage of nurses – an immediate cause is
that managed care has reduced the income that nurses can expect to
make and thereby has reduced the number of people who want to go
into nursing, while a more remote cause is the post-World War II baby
boom that has given the U.S. record numbers of aging Americans in
need of medical care)
 Reproduce causal chains – which occur when a cause leads to an effect
and that effect becomes a cause, which leads to another effect and that
effect becomes a cause leading to another effect, and so on
(*example on the next slide)
Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives describe nouns (people, places, or things) and pronouns
(words that replace nouns). They add information explaining how many,
what kind, or which one. They also help you appeal to the senses by
describing how things look, smell, feel, taste, and sound.
“The intelligent woman, Justina Ford, become the first African American
female in Colorado to be a licensed physician. Justina Ford delivered
more than seven thousand babies. Dr. Ford had to overcome difficult
obstacles in her career.”
Adverbs add information to adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. They
give more specific information about how, when, where, and to what
extent an action or event occurred.
“Doctors in ancient Rome performed surgeries seriously. These surgeons
could remove cataracts quite quickly. The ancient Romans were highly
innovative.”