Step 1: Prewriting. What do I know about the subject?
Roads to Travel: Prewriting
Prewriting: Brain storming and choosing categories
Often expediency dictates our choice.
We use routing software to decide.
We use a GPS to navigate
We make wrong turns
We make discoveries
We see new things
Choices
Our purpose for traveling
What we see
What we learn
Robert Frost, “Two Road Diverged in a Yellow Wood”
Step 2: Choosing categories to develop
Topics and examples:
Interstate
Signage
Ease of entrance, exit
Few distractions, except the traffic.
Reason built
My recollections from childhood
Fast
Uninterrupted
Quick, direct: destination of the most importance
Interstate
Why I choose: most direct, expediency, getting where I am going quickly
Fast, uninterrupted
Signage: standard, see from a distance, gas/food/lodging
Ease of entrance, exit
Few distractions - except the traffic. Maybe billboards
Reason built; My recollections from childhood
Major arteries: State Roads
Two lane and four lane
Signage Route 66; A1A, 31
Stops and starts
Distractions
Landmarks: things that have changed: motels, motor courts Palomino
Major arteries: State Roads
Alternate, detour, a most-direct route
Two lane and four lane
Signage Route 66; A1A, Highway 31
Necessary option: detour, beyond the Interstate artery
Distractions: Stops and starts, red lights, small towns, gathering places.
Landmarks: things that have changed: motels, motor courts Palomino
Unimproved/Back roads
Gravel
Dirt
Paths
Pig trails
What I see: flowers, passage of
time, colors, textures
Unimproved/Back roads
More time, the journey rather than the destination
Marked and unmarked: awareness
Country songs - romance
Types: Gravel, dirt, paths, pig trails
What I see: flowers, seasonal rhythm, colors, textures, Houses/curtains/smoke/children/animals
Where I am as much as where I am going
Step 3: Working thesis and basic outline
Working thesis: There are three types of roads that people choose to travel on everyday: Interstate highways, main roads, and back roads.
What distinguishes these types from each other?
Identify those: Choose three or four points of distinction.
List them.
Identify examples of those characteristics for each topic.
List them.
Choose an order for those characteristics: Number them.
Create a working outline.
Step 4: Consider the point of the essay
Freewrite a conclusion: Why is this classification important? What does it reveal about the subject that you have chosen?
As you draft the body, revisit the freewrite of the conclusion:
What is important?
What insight do you gain?
After drafting the paper, draft a thesis that will introduce the point the classification makes, the point that is reached in the conclusion.
This may change as you work through the drafting process.
A part of the writing process is discovery.
Be willing to listen to that voice.
Step 4B After choosing a focus, revise the working thesis to include that idea. As work continues, this idea may evolve.
Drafting the thesis: stops and starts.
Do not expect to "get it right" the first time.
Depending on the type road we travel
Whether we travel on an interstate highway, a state highway or a country road, we
Traveling on an interstate highway, a state highway or a country road, we
Traveling on an interstate highway, a state highway or a country road provides and opportunity to
Our experience is determined in part by the type road we travel. Whether we are traveling an Interstate highway, a major thoroughfare, or a country road, we
Our experience is determined in part by the type road we travel. Whatever our reasons for choosing a particular route, our choice affects our journey.
Our experience is determined in part by the type road we travel. Reaching the destination may mean traveling on an interstate, a main road, or a back road, but the experience
Reaching a destination may mean traveling on an interstate, a main road, or a back road. While the end result is the same, the journey will be determined in part by the type of path I have chosen.
Thesis: While reaching the destination is the goal of any journey, choosing to travel on the interstate, main roads, or backroads will affect the experience of that journey.
Interstate
Define: What is characteristic
Why choose?
What is the experience?
Main road
Define: What is characteristic
Why choose?
What is the experience?
Back road
Define: What is characteristic
Why choose?
What is the experience?
Step 5 Developing the Outline to include details as support; add items, consider organization
Developing the Outline
Interstate
Define: What is characteristic of this type; what distinguishes?
Signage
Color-coded: Green, blue, brown; speed limit; directional and destination
Intersections
Ramps; easy on and off; controlled access
Surface/size: four lane, wide shoulders, consistent markings
Visuals/Distractions
traffic density and speed
Limited view of surroundings
When/why travel? Long distances, making time
Experience: Focus on “getting there” and traffic.
Main/State Roads
Define: What is characteristic of this type; what distinguishes?
Signage
Standard US, state; curves, markers; other information; varying speed limits
Intersections
Some ramps; intersections with rights of way; traffic density, speed, starts and stops
Surface/size: Two or four lane, center line, shoulders
Visuals
Two or four lane, intersections; traffic density, speed, and stopping
Businesses, restaurants, hotels, houses, towns, scenic views
When/why travel? Short distances, destination is on route, detours.
Experience: Focus on destination and navigating traffic. Sensory overload.
Back roads
Define: What is characteristic of this type; what distinguishes?
Signage: Road numbers, animal crossings; unmarked;
Intersections: Stop signs, yield signs
Surface/size: paved, gravel; one or two lane
Visuals: Scenery: the country side
When/why travel? Interest in the area; exploring
Experience : Focus on the nature, images, memory
Step 6 Revisit the thesis; make changes if needed
Step 7 Draft the body paragraphs
Step 8 Revise the conclusion
Step 9 Choose a hook
Step 10 Revise for sentencing, coherence, transition