P D R S - The Writing Process

Prepare

Dare

Repair

How do you write well? Use the Writing Process

First:

Writing is NOT talk written down.

Writing is a thoughtful, committed arrangement of precise images and active events

that clearly express the writer's purpose (story, explanation, or opinion)

in interesting language that moves the reader's (the audience's) mind movie into the writer's vision.

Therefore:

Writing in your mind must be PLANNED. Focus on one topic.

Plan, organize, and choose ideas and words before drafting.

Finally:

Revise your writing: reread it for precise words and detailed elaboaration, logical organization with transitions, interesting language using figurative language, and varied sentences (different lengths and different beginnings). Then edit your writing for spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, paragraphing, margins, legibility, etc.

Prepare:

Preparation to write is planning the possible ideas, details, and precise words (nouns and verbs).

1: Prewrite Interesting Ideas:

What are interesting and unique ideas about your topic? Make a quick list.

2. Look at your list and decide:

What is my topic? __________________

Who is my audience?

What is my purpose?

What is the message, the main idea I want to explain/narrate/persuade to my audience about my topic:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Use our message idea to write a topic sentence:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Prewrite Interesting Ideas with elaboration:

Elaboaration (5Es) includes:

elaborate: add more details
explain: explain your idea
experience: tell some experiences about your idea
evidence: add evidence to prove your idea
example: give examples (For instance, For example)

Think about your message. Write a new list or choose your ideas from your idea prewriting lists with nifty nouns and a list of details for each main idea. Choose one or more from your prewriting idea list, depending on how you want to present to your audience. Always ask yourself: Am I adding to my message?

Your ideas with nifty nouns: | Make a list with nifty nouns that elaborates on your idea-what details (5Es) will thoroughly explain your idea / message

4. Prewriting for strong verbs

Look at your message and ideas. Have you written nifty, specific nouns? List the nouns you will write about, and then list strong, vivid, ACTIVE verbs for each noun. Always ask yourself: Am I adding to my message?

Idea Nouns or Noun Phrases | Strong Verbs or Verb Phrases

Digital camera will snap shots of my Grandma to save for my family

5. Organize.

Look at your ideas. Number them in a logical order. Think about transition words.

Dare:

Dare to write a first draft.

Now especially: Always ask yourself: Am I adding to my message?

Look at your prewriting. Reread your work. Think about your message. Start writing your piece. Use many details, nifty nouns, and vivid verbs.

Repair:

Repair your writing with revision.

How can you add a grabber beginning?

ask a question
tell a story in two-three sentences that introduces your idea
give an interesting fact

Reread your writing -- revise for:

Names -- add precise words --nifty nouns
Details -- detailed elaboaration -- more evidence
Action -- strong verbs
Organization (flow) -- logical organization with transition words
Varied sentences -- different lengths and different beginnings
Interesting Language -- use figurative language (alliteration, consonance, assonance, simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, etc.)

How can you end your writing in an interesting way?

Restate your message
Give an example
Tell what will happen because of your message.
Ask a question

Review:

Have I stayed on topic?
Have I written to my audience?
Have I written to my purpose?
Am I convincing -- did I create interesting mind movies for the audience?

Proofread your writing:

Edit for spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, paragraphing, margins, legibility, etc.

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Publish your writing in a final draft.

Writing Process: P D R S