The+Writing+Process

**1) __Limit the Subject__** - more and more specific
 * || 6 Step Process

For example: Effects of Islamic culture on West - TOO BROAD

could involve: religious effects political effects social effects cultural effects

The writer would need to pick 1 of these areas and make it more specific.


 * 2) __Determine Purpose and Audience__**

__Purpose__: __Why__ you are writing

For example: to show or illustrate by example (Example Paper) to explain causes or effects (Cause/Effect Paper) to persuade someone (Persuasive Paper)

__Audience__: __Who__ you are writing to (which will determine how you write - language you use, etc.)

For example: instructor and classmates (for class paper)- use best vocabulary, etc. children (for a children's book) - would need to use smaller words, pictures, etc. doctor to other doctors - can use formal medical terms doctor to a patient - would need to use more common speech word instead of formal medical term

(topic is not the thesis - you have to express an __opinion__ or __attitude__ toward the topic - something to defend)
 * 3) __Write a Thesis Statement__** - a 1-sentence summary of the main point of your essay

For example: Thesis statement: George Washington was the first President of the United States. (not a good thesis - simply states a __fact__)

Thesis statement: George Washington was the most influential President in American history. (a good thesis - gives writer an __opinion__ to defend--someone else, for example, might say that Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson was the most influential, etc.)


 * 4) __Prewrite__** - steps to gather ideas before writing

brainstorm - list ideas discuss ideas - with classmate, spouse, friend, etc. journal - especially good if your paper relates to a personal topic freewrite - writing nonstop for 10-15 minutes visual strategy - a more organized form of brainstorming using circles and lines (see example in textbook) research in library - most helpful for papers in which you will cite outside sources


 * 5) __Organize Ideas__** - outline

informal outline - (see student example in textbook) formal outline - using Roman numerals (see example in textbook)


 * 6) __Write Drafts__**

rough draft - could be one or several final copy - after making corrections from rough draft, etc. ||  ||