“The art of writing is the art of discovering
what you believe.” Gustave Flaubert
Freewrite – quickly write whatever comes to your
head. Don’t stop. Don’t edit. Don’t read what
you’ve written until you’re finished.
Brainstorm – Write down all ideas without
judgment. Later you can decide which fits you.
Creative Questioning – What if?? (serious or
zany) Choose the one that excites you.
Browsing – Leaf through art, photography, books
of quotations or humor, magazines and
newspapers. Have a pen and jot down ideas as
you browse.
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1.
2.
3.
Does the topic interest me personally?
Is it clear enough for me to understand and write about?
Is there enough to say about the topic?
Defining Your
Purpose and Audience
Purpose:
Why am I writing?
• Do you want to inform your readers?
• Do you want to describe something to them?
• Do you want to entertain them?
• Do you want to persuade them to believe something?
• * Note * You can combine purposes.
Audience:
For whom am I writing?
• Who is going to read your writing?
• What do your readers already know about the topic?
• What do they need in order to understand your ideas?
• How can you capture their interest?
Choose the form that best fits the purpose and audience:
• Personal Narrative
• Descriptive
• Response to Literature
• Letter
• Technical (How To…)
• Research Paper
• Reflective Texts
• Short Story (Play)
• Persuasive
• Cause and Effect
• Compare and Contrast
• Poem
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Gathering all the information needed to write
Organizing all the information needed to write
These two can be accomplished in one of two
ways:
1.
2.

Graphic Organizer
Outline
NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 1 OF THE
5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 20-50 POINTS
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When you feel you have a proper plan in place,
begin drafting the piece.
Do not worry too much about word choice,
grammar, or mechanics in this stage.
Just get the words down on paper in an organized
fashion.
NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 2 OF THE
5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 50 POINTS
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Peer-Response is the best way because you are
too close to your words and thoughts to have any
objective perspective on your paper.
Getting and Giving Peer Response
Tips for Writers
Tips for Peer Readers
• Give readers clean copies of your
writing (typed is always appreciated)
• Ask open-ended questions; they will
get you more information than
questions that can be answered yes or
no.
• Give readers enough time to respond
thoughtfully.
• Encourage readers to be honest in
their responses to your writing.
• Respect the writer’s feelings.
• Begin by telling the writer what you
like about the writing.
•Answer the writer’s questions in a
positive way. Don’t just point out faults
in the writing.
• Be specific in your feedback.
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As the writer the final product is up to you. You
don’t have to use all the suggestions you get from
your peers, but keep in mind that if you change
nothing, you have not improved your writing.
Possible Open ended questions?
How did my introductory paragraph get your attention?
How does my thesis work for you?
Have I included enough support for the main idea? If not, what have I left out?
Is there anything you would take out because it seems unnecessary or irrelevant?
How should I reorganize my paragraphs or sentences for better fluency?
Can you summarize my main idea and main points?
How can I improve my wording and my description of things?
How can I improve my conclusion paragraph to leave you feeling better satisfied?
Using the Six Traits
1. Ideas and
Content
Make sure your ideas are clear, focused, and supported
with relevant details.
2. Organization
Arrange your ideas in a logical order that moves the
reader through the text.
3. Voice
Express your ideas in a way that shows your individual
style and personality.
4. Word Choice
Use language that is precise, powerful, and engaging.
5. Sentence Fluency
Improve the rhythm and flow of your sentences by using
varied sentence lengths and structures.
6. Conventions
Eliminate errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
* Note this 6th trait is format.
evaluated only
during the editing
stage.
See pg. 314-315 of the Blue Grammar Book for more details on revising.
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Revision is a key step because it gives you a
chance to reevaluate what you said and if you
said it best.
The changes you make based on your peer’s
suggestions need to be rewritten in a new
copy of the draft so that the paper is as close to
perfect in content and context that it can be.
NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 3 OF THE
5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 50 POINTS
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During this process you are simply proofreading
for:
Sentence fragments
 Run-on sentences
 Verb Tense Errors
 Incorrect capitalization
 Errors in subject-verb agreement
 Missing or misused punctuation
 Misused or misspelled words
 Dangling modifiers
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It is helpful but not necessary to have a peer help
you edit.
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Read the work slowly—one sentence at a time
Look for mistakes you often find in writing.
Look closely at sentences that just don’t seem
right to you—even if you aren’t immediately sure
why they aren’t right.
Use the your knowledge of grammar, usage, and
mechanics rules of Standard American English.
Use a dictionary (or spell check) to check
spellings of unfamiliar words and words that
often give you trouble.
Let’s talk computer age.
This Chart shows symbols that
editors use to point out errors.
Close up.
^ (Insert) Add a letter or word.
.
Add a period.
Begin a new paragraph
Capitalize a letter.
D
,
Switch the positions of letters
or words.
Make a capital letter lowercase.
Delete letters or words.
Add a comma
#
Add a space
 NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 4 OF THE 5
STEP WRITING PROCESS
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Share your writing
In print – School Newspaper, Literary Magazine,
Magazine that publishes student writing.
Electronically – Post on Electronic Bulletin
Board, E-mail to friends or relatives, Create a
Website for your writing.
By presenting – In a dramatic reading or
performance or as a persuasive speech.
NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 5 OF THE
5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 100 POINTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Prewriting = 20 - 50 points (Graphic
organizer)
Drafting = 50 points (Handwritten or typed)
Revised Draft = 50 points (2nd Copy of the
paper with changes highlighted.
Final Draft = 100 points (3rd Copy of the
paper with editing errors corrected)
Publishing = 50 points (Presentation of
Work)
I ______________________understand that if I miss a step I am
no longer in the process. There is no way to make up a late
assignment.