1. TOPIC Choose what you will write about. Your topic should be clear and well defined. 2. RESEARCH Gather facts to support your statements or opinions. 3. FORMAT The requirements for writing a letter, essay, speech, or journal entry are different. Make sure you follow the requirements of the format you are using. 4. PURPOSE Your purpose will focus your writing. Are you writing to inform, entertain, instruct, or persuade your audience? 5. AUDIENCE Your choice of words and writing style should be shaped by your audience. Are you writing for your peers, younger children, or adults? 6. OUTLINE Write a clear thesis (topic) statement. Then write your subtopics in a logical order that leads to a conclusion. (See Outlining, page R–2.) The Writing Process These steps are part of the writing process. PLOT The main events in a story put in a particular order THEME The subject, topic, or recurring idea SETTING The time period(s) and location(s) in the story CHARACTERS The people or participants in the story MOOD The overall tone or feeling; the atmosphere and imagery VOICE/STYLE The unique way a writer tells his or her story FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE The use of figures of speech or word images, such as: • Metaphor: A figurative comparison of two things without using “like” or “as” • Simile: A figurative comparison of two things using “like” or “as” • Personification: The giving of human qualities to nonhuman things • Hyperbole: The use of exaggeration for effect Literary Elements Essential features of a piece of writing Literary elements vary depending on the format and genre of a piece of writing. They include but are not limited to: 7. POINT OF VIEW Determine the point of view (e.g., I, he/she, etc.) from which you will write. Your understanding of a topic might increase when you consider different points of view. 8. ROUGH DRAFT Write a rough draft that follows your outline, keeping your audience and point of view in mind. Each paragraph should deal with one main idea only. Your composition should follow a logical order to a conclusion. 9. EDIT AND REVISE Check your work for clarity and for spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Revise the content if necessary. Then proofread carefully. 10. SOURCES Cite a source for each quote, fact, and idea used that is not your own. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Use footnotes and/or a bibliography or Works Cited page. (See page R–6.) 11. FINAL DRAFT Prepare a neat final copy for submission. Be proud of your work! TIP Many of these steps apply to other projects as well, such as oral or PowerPoint presentations. RESOURCE PAGES R–7
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA5Mw==