The POWER Writing Process 4 A system to get writers from blank page to finished product in five easy steps. 4 A way to help students create better quality.

The POWER Writing Process A system to get

writers from blank page to finished product in five easy steps.

A way to help students create better quality writing projects.

Power helps students avoid this shocking scenario.

POWER is an acronym.

P is for PrewritingO is for OrganizingW is for Write a rough draftE is for EvaluateR is for Revise and Rewrite

P is for PREWRITEPrewriting is defined as the search for ideas. Ways to Prewrite

– Brainstorming or Listing

– Clustering or Mapping or Webbing

– Free writing

– 5W-How questions (the reporter’s questions)

– Create a timeline

– Change point of view

Do not judge ideas as good or bad; just get as many ideas as possible.

Brainstorming or Listing

Brainstorming or listing involves simply making a list of whatever ideas come to mind about the subject being considered.

Brainstorm on the subject of summer vacation.– Sleeping late

– Cubs games

– baseball games

– hot weather

– children to pool

– root beer

Assignment: Brainstorm on the subject of Vacations.

Clustering or Mapping

Shoes

AthleticShoes

Other ShoeUses

DressShoes

Boots

Assignment: Cluster ideas about Sports

Sports

Free Writing

Free writing is defined as writing for a certain amount of time in paragraph form without stopping

If you get stuck, you should ask yourself, “What should I write about next?”

For example, write without stopping for three minutes on the subject of who in history you would most want to spend an hour talking to and why.

The 5W-How Questions. These questions help students prewrite before research.

Who What Where When Why How

Who wants to be cloned? Who wants to stop cloning? Who was the first person to clone?

What was the first organism to be cloned? What is a benefit of cloning?

Where was cloning first done? Where is cloning experimentation occurring now?

When did the first successful cloning occur? When will humans be successfully cloned?

Why is cloning opposed by many religious groups?

How is cloning done? How long has cloning been possible?

Time line Time lines help students put eventsin order.

fantasy

reality

Time line for “Walter Mitty”Flying Hydroplanein a storm

Driving hiscar to town.

A surgeon performing adelicateprocedure.

Driving pasta hospital

Defendantin murdertrial

Hears newsboyyelling aboutthe WaterburyTrial

Football GameFootball’spoint of view

Coach’s point of view

Cheerleader’spoint of view

Parent’s point of view

Change the point of view. Look at object or event from an unusual point of view.

O is for Organize the Ideas

Organizing has two parts. – Students must select the ideas they will use

Brainstorm on the subject of summer vacation.

– Sleeping late

– Cubs games 2

– baseball games 1

– hot weather 3

– children to pool 4

– root beer

– Students must put those ideas in order.

Basic Organizational Patterns

Chronological (Time Order)– next, then, later, after that,

first,

Compare or Contrast– Similarly, but, however, on

the other hand, in comparison, in contrast

Give the process for … Explain in order Discuss the events that led up to What are the steps of …

What are three differences between …

What are two similarities between …

Compare/ Contrast ...

Basic Organizational Patterns cont.

Order of Importance (student chooses the most effective order of ideas)– next, then, another, also, first,

in addition

Spatial (logical order in space i.e. left to right, top to bottom, inside to outside.)– below, above, to the left, next

to

What are three results of … Discuss four elements of … What are three solutions for the

problem of …

Describe the appearance of … analyze the structure of ...

W is for Write a rough draft

A rough draft is a practice copy. It allows the student to write without pressure because it doesnot matter if the writer makes mistakes. It also is allows the writer to experiment with sentencesword choice, and organization. Finally, it acts as a kind of free writing and helps the writer come upwith additional ideas.

What is aRough Draft?

There are no Rules!

Just Do One!

Evaluate means to look for ways to improve.

Students should focus on improving three aspects of the essay.

Each aspect should be examined separately.

E is for Evaluate

We evaluate COS

Content

Organization

Style

– Students examine FOCUS

– Students look to improve SUPPORT

– Students check for an introduction, body, conclusion.

– Students review the Organization of the ideas.

– Students look to add transition

– Students read for complete sentences

– Students review word choice

– Students proofread

R is for Revise and Rewrite

ReviseRevision involves actually making the improvementsthe were decided upon during Evaluation.

Evaluation and Revision are often done together.

Revise and Rewrite CONT.

Rewrite– Rewrite means to write a clean second draft using an

accepted manuscript form.• Handwritten:

– Blue or Black ink recommended

– Margins on both the left and right side of the paper

– Required classroom heading with the student’s name, etc.

• Word Processor– Size 12 font

– Double spaced

– clearly readable font appropriate for academic writing

P is for PrewritingO is for OrganizingW is for Write a rough draftE is for EvaluateR is for Revise and Rewrite

Give Your Students the POWER

Give them a way to get from blank page to finished product in anything

they do.

Acknowledgements

This slide show developed by Mark Astle. The POWER idea was developed partly from ideas in the Laidlaw Composition and Grammar Texts copyright 1986 and partly from ideas in the Warner's Composition and Grammar Series.