Introduction
Writing is a process involving both creative and routine aspects. It includes several steps, which help develop, shape, describe, and conclude one’s ideas. It is known to include five separate stages: prewriting, discovery drafting, revising, editing and proofreading, and publishing (“The Writing Process” 2). While some people move along the list consistently, others might find the linear approach uncomfortable and would rather move in a free manner, following their own train of thought (“Finding the Writing” 1).
Prewriting
Prewriting is a stage when one is brainstorming and focusing on one’s ideas, attempting to select the most important arguments to cover in the paper. There are several prewriting methods which help generate and link the ideas coherently, such as clustering, fast-writing, or reporter’s questions (“The Writing Process” 8). The clustering approach means writing down the key ideas and linking them to multiple associations, which generate new ideas in turn. Fast-writing is a free-flowing technique of writing in an impulsive manner, without keeping track of the mistakes, which helps produce more ideas.
Discovery Drafting
At this stage of writing, it is crucial not to get discouraged by the possible mistakes and put all the brainstormed thoughts onto the paper. It is a good idea to structure them into separate parts of the paper, such as introduction, first point, second point, third point, and a conclusion. In this way, an outline is written, which helps to keep the paper coherent and logically structured. The separately elaborated arguments should be shaped into paragraphs, with the very first paragraph (the thesis statement) outlining the main question or a problem. The following parts of the paper are to support the statement, and the conclusion should provide a summary of all the mentioned points.
Revising
The revising stage requires the writer to evaluate the paper critically (Barnett 1). It is important to spot the inconsistencies, to improve the logical structure of the paper, clarifying certain points, adding the necessary information and removing certain irrelevant ideas. Reorganizing is also a part of the revision, as it might improve the cohesion of the work (“The 5-Step Writing” 1).
Editing and Proofreading
After the revision, it is crucial to check your paper for correct spelling and grammar, sentence structure, style, clarity of ideas (“Drafting, Revising, and Editing” 67), and logical structure. It is a good idea to write an editing checklist, which will help with verifying each feature of the paper consistently. Proofreading methods involve backward-reading, reading-aloud (“Drafting, Revising, and Editing” 73), and other techniques which might help with spotting errors. Colleagues might prove to be of help, since they might notice certain dubious points which seemed acceptable for the author, and suggest clarifying them.
Publishing
The last stage of the writing process is concerned with the final preparation of the paper. It might involve the formatting process, or adding visual representation of data supporting the thesis statement (“What Is the Writing Process?” 2). A completed paper should be neatly type-written, meeting all the format requirements, including a reference list, if needed.
Conclusion
The writing process involves several of aspects. Relatively free and creative part at the stage of prewriting is followed by the drafting stage, where it is important to structure and organize the ideas. The purpose of revision is to spot the discrepancies and logical inconsistencies. When editing and proofreading, it is crucial to correct the grammar and spelling mistakes.
Writing a good paper requires the combination of creativity, discipline, and accuracy. The points mentioned should be logically linked and properly explained in the body of the paper. It is important to follow an outline made at the beginning of the process so that all ideas are elaborated accordingly.
References
Barnett, Marva A. Writing as a Process.
Drafting, Revising, and Editing. n.d. Web.
Finding the Writing Process that Works for You. n.d. Web.
The 5-Step Writing Process: From Brainstorming to Publishing. n.d.
The Writing Process. n.d. Web.
What Is the Writing Process? n.d. Web.