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The Writing Process

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Quote from Joseph Pulitzeron Technical Writing

“Put it before them briefly sothey will read it, clearly so

they will appreciate it,picturesquely so they will

remember it, and above all,accurately so they will be

guided by its light. “

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Why do you need a writing process?

It can help writers to

organize their thoughts.

avoid frustration.

use their time productively and efficiently.

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Pre Writing Re WritingWriting

The Writing Process

Pre Writing Writing

Pre Writing

Prepare to Write !

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Pre Writing Examine your purpose Determine your goals Consider your audience Gather your data Determine how the content will be

provided

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Examine your purpose Why are you communicating ?

External Motivation If someone asks you to write

Internal Motivation If you write on your own

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Pre Writing Examine your purpose Determine your goals Consider your audience Gather your data Determine how the content will be

provided

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Determine your Goals What is your reason for communicating?

Persuade an audience Instruct an audience Inform an audience of facts, concerns, or

questions Build trust by managing work relationships.

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Pre Writing Examine your purpose Determine your goals Consider your audience Gather your data Determine how the content will be

provided

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Consider your audience What type of audience are you addressing

in your communication? Management Sub ordinates Co workers Customer Multi cultural group of individuals

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Pre Writing Examine your purpose Determine your goals Consider your audience Gather your data Determine how the content will be

provided

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Gather your data Decide what you have to say

Brainstorming/Listing Mind Mapping Answering the reporters questions Researching Outlining Organizational Charts

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Brainstorming / Listing

All ideas are respected and recorded, no matter how wild.

Write down everything that comes to your mind; don’t worry about sorting out “good” and “bad” ideas.

Don’t worry about spelling or grammar.

E.g What can you do if you win one million dollars today?

Brainstorming

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Mapping “Mapping,” sometimes called “semantic/

idea mapping” or “webbing,” is another way to organize your ideas.

Start with your topic in the center, and branch out from there with related ideas.

Use words and phrases, not complete sentences.

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Example Map

My future

family

Raise healthy, happy children

Stay close to my in laws

Make them a priority

education

work

Eventually get a PhD

Never stop learning

Instill a love of education in my children

Learn to love whatever work I am doing

Use the skills I have learned in as many ways as possible

Stay at home while raising children

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Answering the Reporter’s Questions To use questioning at its best, try projecting

yourself into the role of a reporter.

What questions could you ask to elicit information from other people?

The traditional “five W’s and H” can be expanded to full-fledged questions. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

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Doing Research Using search engines Literature and Magazines Conducting interviews Libraries

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Outlining “Outlining” is a more

organized form of pre-writing than the others we discussed.

When you start placing ideas in order, you are beginning a scratch outline.

It can be used after you have generated ideas through brainstorming or other pre-writing techniques.

It works well for structured types of writing such as essays, thesis and reports.

OUTLINE

I. IntroductionA. Grab attentionB. State thesis

II. BodyA. Build pointsB. Develop ideasC. Support main claim

III. ConclusionA. Reemphasize main idea

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Example OutlineI. Introduction: Internet chatting has

advantages and disadvantages.II. Advantages

a) meet people around the worldb) not based on appearance

III. Disadvantagesa) can you trust them?b) may be too far away to meet in person

IV. Conclusion: Some success stories, but too risky

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Charting Charting works very well for comparison/ contrast

writing or examining advantages and disadvantages.

You can use many different kinds of charts, depending on your topic and the kind of writing you are doing.

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Example Chart

Living with Family

Living in Hostel

Advantages May not pay rent Meals Different ages

More independence Social interaction

Disadvantages Less independence Rules

Rent Cooking/Shopping Noise

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Pre Writing Examine your purpose Determine your goals Consider your audience Gather your data Determine how the content will be

provided

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Determine how the content will be provided

Decide which way will be best for communicating ? Email Memo SMS Web Letter Brochure Newsletter Etc

Writing

Time to Write !

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Writing Organization

Organize the draft according to some logical sequence that your readers can follow easily.

Formatting Format the content to allow for ease of access.

Re Writing

Improve Your Writing

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Re Writing Revising Editing Proof reading

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Revising

Review higher-order concerns: Clear communication of

ideas Organization of paper Paragraph structure Strong introduction and

conclusion

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Revision Is purpose clear? Is audience clear? Is thesis strong? Is thesis supported? Is tone appropriate?

Transitions between ideas and paragraphs?

Sentences smooth? Words vivid? Grammar? Punctuation? Spelling?

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Editing Strategy

C Capitals

O Overall Appearance

P Punctuation

S Spelling

COPS

COPS

COPS

COPS

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Proofreading

Review later-order concerns: Spelling Punctuation Sentence

structure Documentation

style

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Proofreading tips Slowly read your paper

aloud.

Exchange papers with a friend.

NOTE: Spell check will not catch everything, and grammar checks are often wrong!

Let’s Revise !!

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What we studied today?

Re WritingPre Writing Writing

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Pre Writing Examine your purpose Determine your goals Consider your audience Gather your data Determine how the content will be

provided

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Writing Organization

Organize the draft according to some logical sequence that your readers can follow easily.

Formatting Format the content to allow for ease of access.

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Re Writing Revising Editing Proof reading