WritingProcess
It is important to note that, although the stages of the writing process are presented below in a linear way, the writing process is not a linear process, but rather a fluid process that moves back and forth between the stages as illustrated in the diagram.
Planning or Prewriting
Writing a Draft
Writing a Draft
- Talking, thinking, viewing, reading, listening
- Brainstorming, sharing ideas
- Planning (sketching, graphic organizers, webbing)
- Putting ideas down on paper (computer)
- Letting the writing flow
- Leaving spaces to fill in further details a little later
Conferencing: Teacher/Student (guidelines for teachers)
- Keep conferences short
- See as many writers as possible
- Go to the students so you can control conference length
- Make eye contact with the writers
- Don’t tell writers what should be in their writing
- Build on what writers know and have done
- Resist making judgments about the writing
- When questioning students, ask about something you’re curious about
Sample Conference Questions
- Tell me more about that
- I don’t understand that
- Read it to me again
- What’s the most important thing you’re trying to say?
- What’s your favourite part? How can you build on it?
- How could you find out more about your topic?
- Is all this information important? What parts don’t you need?
- Why is this significant to you?
- Does this lead/bring your reader right into the piece?
- What do you want your reader to know or feel at the end of your piece?
Questions for peer conferences
- What would be a better title for the piece?
- What seems to be the main point of the writing?
- What uncertainties do you have about the piece?
- What would happen if key words or main ideas were changed?
Revising
Editing
Editing
- (self, peer, teacher, parent)
- How can I make this story better?
- Does it make sense?
- Is there a beginning, middle and end?
- Did I respond to my conferencing wishes?
- Rereading and anticipating a reader’s response
- Listening for precision of language
- Tightening and linking
- Clarifying and sharpening
- Smoothing out and reordering
- Listening for pace and rhythm
- Creating or refining a title
- Finding ways to engage and support a reader
- Anticipating a critic’s attention to detail
- Noticing and correcting
Editing means making changes, when needed to …
- Words
- Length
- Pacing
- Emphasis
- Spelling
- Punctuation
- Capitalization
- Paragraphing
- Verb tense
- Person
- Grammatical constructions
- Visual presentation
Publishing
Publishing
Why Publish?
- Bulletin Board (in or outside classroom)Class Anthology (bound)
- Class/school web site
- Public reading/performance
- http://www.webenglishteacher.com/publish.html
- encourages the reluctant writer
- strengthens students' self-confidence
- rewards interest
- promotes a positive attitude toward literature
Interview with Alycia Pindar: The Writing Process in a Grade 6 Classroom
Interview with Alycia Pindar: The Writing Process in a Grade 6 Classroom
Writing in your Balanced Literacy Program
Writing in your Balanced Literacy Program
Balanced Literacy: Writing
Balanced Literacy: Writing
Shared Writing:
- students and teacher work together on a piece of writing.
- teacher is the scribe
- taught in large or small groups
Interactive Writing:
- teacher and students share the pen.
- taught in large or small groups.
- text should be kept simple.
Guided Writing:
- provides opportunity for students to review and demonstrate a recently taught writing skill.
- small group setting
Independent Writing:
- students create their own writing – both self-selected and assigned.
- Interview with Lynn Marsden: Writing centres in an early-years classroom