Key Takeaways
- Writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
- Revising = improving ideas; Editing = correcting mechanics
- Three main writing types: narrative, informative/explanatory, opinion/argument
- 6+1 writing traits: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, presentation
- Four sentence types: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
Last updated: January 2026
1.3 Writing Process and Conventions
Teaching writing involves both the process of creating text and the conventions that make writing clear and correct.
The Writing Process
Five Stages of the Writing Process:
| Stage | Activities |
|---|---|
| 1. Prewriting | Brainstorming, graphic organizers, research, planning |
| 2. Drafting | Getting ideas on paper, focusing on content not perfection |
| 3. Revising | Improving content, organization, word choice, voice |
| 4. Editing | Correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization |
| 5. Publishing | Sharing finished work with audience |
Key Distinction: Revising = improving IDEAS; Editing = correcting MECHANICS
Types of Writing
| Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative | Tell a story | Personal narrative, short story |
| Informative/Explanatory | Explain or inform | Report, how-to, comparison |
| Opinion/Argument | Persuade or convince | Persuasive essay, book review |
Writing Traits (6+1 Model)
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Ideas | Clear main idea with relevant details |
| Organization | Logical structure with transitions |
| Voice | Writer's personality and tone |
| Word Choice | Precise, interesting vocabulary |
| Sentence Fluency | Varied sentence structure, smooth flow |
| Conventions | Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation |
| Presentation | Neat, readable format |
Grammar and Conventions
Parts of Speech:
- Noun: Person, place, thing, or idea
- Verb: Action or state of being
- Adjective: Describes a noun
- Adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, or adverb
- Pronoun: Replaces a noun
- Preposition: Shows relationship between words
- Conjunction: Connects words or phrases
- Interjection: Expresses emotion
Sentence Types:
- Simple: One independent clause
- Compound: Two independent clauses joined by conjunction
- Complex: Independent clause + dependent clause
- Compound-Complex: Multiple independent and dependent clauses
Common Errors to Teach:
- Subject-verb agreement
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- Run-on sentences and fragments
- Comma splices
- Apostrophe usage (possessives vs. contractions)
Test Your Knowledge
What is the main difference between revising and editing?
A
B
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D
Test Your Knowledge
Which writing trait focuses on using precise, interesting vocabulary?
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B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge
Which sentence is a compound sentence?
A
B
C
D