The Writing Process
Purdue OWL staffBrought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab
How Do We Write?
We…
Invention
How to…?
Invention
Create a writing schedule based on the writing assignment:
Sample schedule:
Argument Paper5-7 pages, Times New Roman 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins.
Minimum of five cited sources: 3 must be from academic journals or booksOutline due: 10/17; Draft due: 10/24; Final Draft due: 10/30
Invention
Before you start to write ask questions to explore your rhetorical situation:
Purpose?
Audience?
Genre?
Style?
Research?
Invention Strategies
Ask more critical questions
Freewrite & brainstorm
Map & cluster
Keep a journal
Explore classic topics Ask stasis questionsUse tagmemics
Record ideas without revising or proofreadingInvent and organize ideas visually to explore relationships, processes
Write personal explorations and reflections on ideas
Composing
How to…?
How Do We Write?
Develop the thesisOrganize ideasWrite the first draft
Narrow the topic
Conduct research
I. IntroductionA. Set the contextB. Explain why the topic is important C. State the thesis
II. BodyA. Build pointsB. Develop ideasC. Support the main claim
III. ConclusionA. Reemphasize the main ideaB. Restate the thesis
Creating an Outline
Revising
How to…?
Revising
Revising
Reviewing guide Clear thesis? Clear ideas? Organization of the paper
• From general to specific• Information to support the thesis? Paragraph structure? Supporting details? Conclusion restates the thesis and
overviews the main ideas
Reviewing strategies
Revising
Revising
The paper appears professional? Spelling and punctuation? Sentences clear and easy to read? Documentation style (MLA, APA, etc.)?
Proofreading guide
Revising
Proofreading strategies
Note: Spellchecks and grammar checks do not identify all the errors in a paper.
We…
Recap:How Do We Write?
Where to Go for More Help
Purdue University Writing Lab, Heavilon 226
Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Email brief questions to OWL Mail: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/contact/owlmailtutors
The End
THE WRITING PROCESSPurdue OWL staffBrought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab
