Writing. It seems like an open and closed thing to just write something down, but it is not.

Writing is like baking -

It is a multi-step process that

takes skills each step of the way.

Students often do not understand. They think there's something wrong with them - that they "can't write". Really, they just need to know that putting the words on the page is only the first step (actually... it isn't even the first step!... )

The pre-writing process many steps (and sub-steps!)

• Topic Generation
• Brainstorming
• Research
• Careful documentation of research notes and sources
• Argument Building
• Thesis Statement Development
• Outline - Planning

Then you can write - it is time for the first draft!

Then the editing process takes over:

• Revision
• Editing for the basics - complete sentences, spelling, and ideas
• Editing for commas (this will take many read throughs)
• Sentence Improvement
• Editing - again!
• 
  

Then the post-writing phase

• Formatting the paper
• Creating a works cited page
• Adding or tweaking In-text citations

Back to Editing!

• Check it over again
• Edit to the marking rubric
• Get someone else to read it and give feedback
• Fix mistakes
• Edit again

Print your finished Essay!

Sometimes I wonder why we call it the writing process

it seems to be mostly editing! The editing is a huge process- one that most students do not budget time for at all! Editing is the part that makes a good paper a great paper!