7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
1/17
The Nature of the Writing Process
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
2/17
Process Writing Stephen Marcus,-a specialist in the use of technologyin
writing, maintains that process writhing really becamefeasible with the development of word processing.
Martin(1985)- argues that factual writing fosters thedevelopment of critical thinking skills, which in turn
encourage the individual to explore and challenge socialreality.
Rodrigues-argues that the unfitted writing processapproach has been just as artificial as the traditional high
school research paper. Raimes deals with the issue by teaching two types of
writing:
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
3/17
Writing for learning and Writing for Display>Writing for Learning
*with prewriting, drafts ,revisions and editing
>Writing for Display*examination writing
A shortcoming of the debate around these issues isthat process and product have been seen as either/or
rather than both and entities.
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
4/17
White and Arndt(1991)-view writing as a complexcognitive process that requires sustained intellectualeffort over a considerable period of time. They suggestthat producing text involves six recursive procedures
before actually producing a first draft.
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
5/17
Procedures involved in producing written textDrafting
Structuring
Reviewing
Focusing
Generating ideasEvaluation
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
6/17
Social,Collaborative nature of the composing process
nature of the composing process:
1.Discussion(class,small group, pair)2.Brainstorming/making notes/asking questions3.Fastwriting/selecting ides/establishing a viewpoint4.Rough drafting
5.Preliminary self-evaluation6.Arranging information/structuring the text7.First draft8.Group/peer evaluation and responding9.Conference
10.Second draft11.Self-evaluation/editing/proofreading12.Finished draft13.Final responding to draft
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
7/17
Spoken Versus Written Language
Written language emerged from spoken language ,it is more than talkwritten down
Halliday(1981),according to him, writing emerge in societies as a resultof cultural changes that created new communicative needs. Thesecould not be readily met by the spoken language.
(People need permanent records that could be referred to over andover again). This lead to the emergence of a new form of language:
writing
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
8/17
He suggested(1985)-suggest written language is used forthe ff. purposes:
*Action( e.g.: public signs, products labels, televisionand radio guides, bills, menus,telephone directories,ballot papers, computer manuals)
*For information (e.g.: Newspapers ,current affairsmagazines, advertisements, political pamphlets)
*for entertainment (e. g .:comic strips, fiction books,poetry and drama ,newspaper features ,film subtitles)*These different purposes for language will be reflected
in the charactericstics of the texts themselves:
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
9/17
Can you tell the difference?
Study the following extracts from McCarthy andCarter(1994) and decide which has been takenfrom a spoken text and which from a written text.
1no, itll shut. So ,try it now. Its better..
2are erased awy.Now,wouldnt you like to changeyour image
3.our answers to these questions may not be
definitive or complete ,but even if4so, you know ,up I get temper
5and should be adjusted clockwise to reach theslowest speed while still
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
10/17
answer:
Numbers 1 and 4 suggested spoken language
Numbers 3 and 5 were thought it as writing Number 2 was felt neutral.
Some linguistic exponents identified the informant ascharacteristic of spoken language included the use of
1.Colloquialisms:( far from it,little so-and-sos)2.Discourse markers(now,well, and you know)
3.contracted verb forms(itll,its)
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
11/17
Lexical Density
The number number of content words per clause expressedas a ratio of content words to function.
Spoken and written language also differ in the ratioof content words and grammatical words.
Content words (content words include nouns and verb)Grammatical words (include such as prepositions,pronouns ,and articles)
Example:Spoken
Good writers reflect on what they write.Written
reflection is a characteristic of good writers
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
12/17
Functional Grammar and Writing
Halliday(1985)-language and function is described. >A functional grammar is essentially a natural
grammar ,in the sense that everything in it can beexplained, ultimately ,by reference to how language is
used.
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
13/17
Genre Theory and Writing- Are typified by a particular structure and grammatical
forms that reflect the communicative purpose of thegenre in question.
- Ways in which genre theory has been used in writingpedagogy and researh.
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
14/17
Disadvantaged School Project (DSP) It was set to improve the academia writing skills of
children in inner city schools.
AIMS:
To perform effectively in written class assignments
Make effective notes
Do independent research
Complete written homework discussions about writing
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
15/17
The project worked toward these goals byimplementing an innovation teacher
education package Assessment criteria were asked to evaluation
the project
1. Schematic structure: Is the schematicstructure appropriate to the genreof the text
2. Topic development: Does the writer explicitlyidentify the topic and is the topic developed.
3. Reference: Does the writer use referenceappropriately?
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
16/17
THE SNAP PROJECT
- It was initaited to develop a systematic procedure fordiagnosing the strength and weaknesses of students in
their control over in order to succeed in school.
Aims:
- Schools with high proportion of immigrant students
- To develop a procedure for quantifying, qualitativeinformation
7/27/2019 The Nature of the Writing Process.ppt
17/17
Criteria in evaluating students writing:
1. Explanation- is a factual text used to explain theprocesses involved in the evaluation of natural and
social phenomena.2. Recount- related a series of events. The focus of a
recount is on events rather that on characterdevelopment and plot, as in narrative.