WRITING CLASS ADVANCED THE WRITING PROCESS STEP 1: PRE-WRITING THINKING ABOUT YOUR TOPIC STEP 2: PLANNING ORGANIZING

NG YOUR MATERIAL STEP 3: DRAFTING USING YOUR IDEAS AND PLANS TO WRITE THE FIRST DRAFT a. Starting your point b. Supporting your point TOPIC SENTENCE is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. It is the most important in your paragraph because it controls all the other sentences. In this way, a topic sentence functions like a traffic sign controlling vehicles on the road. It shows readers which way they are going. a. States the topic of the paragraph b. Identifies the controlling idea c. Expresses the writers attitude about the topic. UNITY. A paragraph is unified when all of the supporting sentences relate to the main topic and develop the controlling idea. Make sure that you dont include any unnecessary information in the paragraph. COHERENCE. The sentences should be arranged so that the ideas are in chronological order. Clear plan of arrangement. -time order (telling a story/ sequence of events) -spatial order (describing something) -order of importance (listing examples, causes, effects, reasons or purpose) Transitions to connect your ideas. These are signals that show the connection between one idea and the next. They are important because they guide the reader through a paragraph. TIME RELATIONSHIPS First Then Earlier Before While Soon afterward By the time Then Later After SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS To the left To the right In front of In the back of Next to Beside Across Above Below Behind INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL IDEAS First of all Second The third reason Next Also Besides Furthermore In addition Moreover Finally ILLUSTRATION/ EXAMPLE For example For instance Specifically As an illustration To illustrate Especially Such as

Meanwhile From then on Next Eventually As Since At last DRAFTING ESSAYS

At the center Between Near

Last The most important Another reason

PARTS OF AN ESSAY INTRODUCTION Background Information - Get readers attention using: a. Facts and Statistics b. Quotations c. Anecdotes d. Questions Thesis Statement State purposes of the paragraph; identifies the subject BODY First Body Paragraph Second Body Paragraph Third Body Paragraph CONCLUSION Makes final comments by: -Summarizing main points -Drawing a conclusion -Making a prediction -Offering a solution SIGNALS THAT INTRODUCE A SUMMARY OR CONCLUSION Note: These signals should be followed by a comma. Therefore To conclude consequently in summary thus last of all to summarize in brief finally in conclusion Topic Sentence Supporting Details

in short

STEP 4: REVISING IMPROVING THE FOCUS, CONTENT, AND ORGANIZATION a. Add new ideas or more specific support. b. Eliminate irrelevant sentences c. Rearrange ideas to improve the organization STEP 5: EDITING CHECKING GRAMMAR, SPELLING, CAPITALIZATION, PUNCTUATION, AND WORD CHOICES.