1. Prewriting Writing Rewriting Editing Publishing planning it writing it revising/improving it polishing/correcting it turning it in Essay writing: the steps in the process Academic Success Center

2. Prewriting • Brainstorm topics and choose one • Listing • Freewriting • Web diagram • Prepare outline of ideas • Write thesis statement Academic Success Center

3. Example web Webbing Academic Success Center

4. Example outline Outlining I. A. B. C. II. III. IV. Academic Success Center

5. Um, what’s a thesis statement? • It is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. • It directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. • It is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. Academic Success Center

6. Writing • Write the body • Write the main points • Write the subpoints • Elaborate on the subpoints • Write the introduction • Write the conclusion Academic Success Center

7. Rewriting • Allow some time so you may reread your writing with more objectivity. • Check your essay • Addresses the assignment? • Has good order/organization? • Makes sense? • Flows smoothly? • Remove what doesn’t work, add ideas to improve it, reorder for stronger impact, etc. Academic Success Center

8. Writing Center Did you use it?! Academic Success Center

9. Editing • Run spelling checker and grammar checker. • Have a friend read it with an eye out for errors. • Look carefully for the kinds of error you have made on past assignments; refer to professor’s comments on previous essays. Academic Success Center

10. Publishing • Turn it in on time! • Consider submitting it for essay contests or publication in appropriate journals. Ask your professor about these opportunities. • When you receive it with the professor’s feedback, save it and refer to it—and the comments—the next time you write an essay . . . Always aim to learn from one essay to improve the next one you write! Academic Success Center