The Writing Process

The Writing Process

The writing process can be broken down into 5 steps.  Following these steps will give you a game plan when writing a paper.

1.  Brainstorming and outlining

• Brainstorming is a pre-writing process that lets you get out any ideas related to the topic you will write about. 
• When you brainstorm you take a piece of paper and you begin to write any ideas related to the topic. 
• Click brainstorming templates to download and print brainstorming templates.

2.  Drafts and revisions:

• Drafts are the first attempts at writing your paper after you have brainstormed and outlined your ideas. 
• A first drafts allows you to put together your ideas into essay form. 
• A second (and third) draft allows you to order all your information, quotes, and references in a logical way.

3.  Revisions:

• Revising helps you improve, clarify and make coherent your paper. 
• It allows you to fix any weak points in your arguments, examples, details or ideas.

4. Edit and Proofread:

• Editing and proofreading are checking for mistakes such as spelling, capitalization, grammar, punctuation, tense and word usage.   

5. Finish:

• When you are finished with steps 1-4 you are ready to turn in your paper. 
• Don’t forget vital information such as your name, class and date.

Revised February 21, 2008 by webservices@pasadena.edu