Module 01

Module 01: Sequence of Activities in the Writing Process

Posted by: Angelita P. Oblianda

Sources : Interactive Technical Writing by Perla C. Villamarzo, J.G.Relis and  E.E.Cruz
               http://www.google.com.ph/imglanding?q=ladder&um=1&hl

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Introduction

   

             As a college student, you are expected to come up with a scholarly papers. In order for you to write an effective writing, you need to know the sequence of activities in writing process.

SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES IN WRITING PROCESS

• Planning
• Gathering Information 
• Drafting 
• Revising
• Editing

      These sequence of activities are just like a ladder that you need to follow step by step. 

          Planning is the first activity in the writing process. Under planning, are several preliminary activities. Brainstorm with a small group to enable you to explore different topics. As you brainstorm with your peers, jot down all the ideas given by everybody in the group. Do not reject nor discuss any idea. Give everyone the opportunity to suggest a possible topic for your writing task. The idea need not be expressed in English. Neither should you require your members to give only grammatically correct statements. In fact no explanation is necessary as each searches his or her brain for the possible topics. The process require as many ideas as the group can generate; thus, nobody should refrain from contributing an idea or a topic. Then, narrow down your choices to those topics which you and your group members believe you can effectively write about. Show your list to your professor to know which topics are most relevant or useful to you and your peers.

          Before you proceed to the next step, you must decide on your purpose.Whatever your purpose is, think of your target readers and anticipate their own purpose. It is important that your purpose should match the readers' desired purpose.

          During the pre-writing stage and before you even locate your sources, you must also ask yourself these questions:

              1. Will the information be beneficial to the readers?

              2. What do they already know about the topic?

          All the preliminary activities in planning serve as your guide in locating sources. The internet is a good source of summaries or digests of books and studies. Be sure to choose only the books, journals, and other references materials such as reading from the internet that can give you insights about your topic. Write the complete title of the books and journals you have chosen, names of the authors, titles of the articles, and publication data. All of these will be cited in your list of references or bibliography.If you lift a phrase, sentence, or a paragrah from any of your sources, you should not fail to cite this in the text and in your bibliography.

Example of a lifted sentence:

               Although one of the obvious characteristics of technical writing is its technical subject   
               matter, it would be very difficult to say precisely what a technical subject is (Mills,1981).

          After gathering information and before writing your first draft, you should cluster interrelated ideas first.As soon as you have written your draft, ask again yourself these questions:

               1. Is the purpose clear?

               2. Are the sentences coherent, logical, ad grammatically correct?

               3. Are the words understandable to the readers?

          When you are making a draft, at the same time you are also revising whatever you are writing.When you draft and revise, simply cross out the word or phrases that would like to change instead of using a liquid eraser because you might change your mind and revert to your first choice. The time you need to finish a draft depends on your content, your purpose and your reader.

          Have your draft be read and evaluated by your peers to take note of their comments and then write another draft. Another round of peer reading and evaluating should follow until you are satisfied with your final draft. You are now ready for the editing.

          These are the things that you need to consider in editing:

                

               1.spelling

               2. errors in grammar

               3. sentences that need to be reworded or rephrased to make them clearer and more effective

 

          Examine closely the edited work and write another draft incorporating all the corrections. Repeat the editing procedure until you are very much satisfied with your work. Remember that the rule is : EDIT UNTIL IT IS ALMOST PERFECT.

Here are some of the guide questions which you need to follow when you are in the process of writing:

       1. Do you have the possible topics for your writing task?

       2. Have you shown them to your professor?

       3. Have you selected any of those which you believe you can effectively write about?

       4. Have you decided on your purpose of writing?

       5. Are you sure your purpose matches the desire purpose of your reader?

       6. Are you sure that your information would be beneficial to the readers?

       7. Are you sure you tell them the things which they have not know yet?

       8. Have you gathered lots of information about your topic?

       9. Have you clustered the interrelated ideas? Then , its your time to make the first draft.

      10. Are you sure your purpose is very clear? your words are understandable? and your sentences are
           coherent, logical and grammatically correct?

      11. Have you let your draft read and evaluated by your peers? Then, take notes of their comments and
            write another draft which is better.

      12. Were you satisfied with your final draft? Then, its your time to edit your draft.

      13. Were you careful with the spelling, grammar and the sentence structure?

      14. Now, you have a very effective writing. You will find writing challenging and rewarding task.