Key Takeaways
- Five stages: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
- Revising improves content (ARMS); editing fixes mechanics (CUPS)
- Paragraphs have topic sentences, supporting sentences, and conclusions
- Transitions connect ideas and guide readers
- Support students by breaking writing into manageable steps
The Writing Process and Classroom Support
Understanding the writing process helps you support students at each stage. The ParaPro tests your knowledge of how to help students become better writers.
The Five Stages of Writing
| Stage | Purpose | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Prewriting | Generate and organize ideas | Brainstorming, outlining, researching |
| Drafting | Get ideas on paper | Writing without worrying about perfection |
| Revising | Improve content and organization | Adding, deleting, rearranging ideas |
| Editing | Fix grammar, spelling, punctuation | Proofreading for mechanical errors |
| Publishing | Share the final product | Presenting, displaying, or submitting |
Prewriting Strategies
| Strategy | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Brainstorming | List ideas freely | Generating many ideas |
| Freewriting | Write continuously without stopping | Getting thoughts flowing |
| Clustering/Webbing | Create visual idea maps | Showing connections |
| Outlining | Organize ideas hierarchically | Planning structure |
| Questioning | Ask who, what, when, where, why, how | Developing topics |
Revising vs. Editing
| Revising (ARMS) | Editing (CUPS) |
|---|---|
| Add information | Capitalization |
| Remove unnecessary parts | Usage/grammar |
| Move content around | Punctuation |
| Substitute better words | Spelling |
Key difference: Revising improves IDEAS; editing fixes MECHANICS.
Paragraph Structure
Topic Sentence: States the main idea Supporting Sentences: Provide details, examples, evidence Concluding Sentence: Wraps up the paragraph
Example:
Dogs make wonderful pets. [Topic] They are loyal companions who love unconditionally. Dogs also provide exercise motivation and can reduce stress. Studies show dog owners often have lower blood pressure. [Support] For these reasons, a dog can be a valuable addition to any family. [Conclusion]
Transitions
Transitions connect ideas and guide readers.
| Purpose | Transition Words |
|---|---|
| Adding | also, furthermore, in addition |
| Contrasting | however, but, on the other hand |
| Cause/Effect | therefore, because, as a result |
| Sequence | first, next, then, finally |
| Example | for example, specifically, such as |
| Conclusion | in conclusion, finally, overall |
Types of Writing
| Type | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative | Tell a story | Personal narratives, fiction |
| Expository | Explain or inform | Reports, essays, how-to guides |
| Persuasive | Convince the reader | Opinion pieces, advertisements |
| Descriptive | Create a picture | Poetry, descriptive essays |
Classroom Application
Support students in the writing process by:
- Breaking writing into manageable stages
- Using graphic organizers for prewriting
- Encouraging drafting without perfectionism
- Teaching revision and editing as separate steps
- Providing checklists for self-assessment
- Conferencing with students one-on-one
- Celebrating finished writing with publishing opportunities
Which activity is part of the REVISING stage of writing?
What is the primary purpose of a topic sentence?