The Process of Academic Writing

There are four main stages involved in process of academic writing. They are pre-writing, planning, writing and revising a draft, and writing the final copy. In this article, we are going to explain each stage in detail.

I. Prewriting

Prewriting involves two steps:

• choosing and narrowing a topic
• brainstorming.

1. Step one: Choosing and Narrowing a Topic

If you are given a broad topic, then you must narrow it to a particular aspect. For instance, if you are interested in an environment, it would be impossible to cover such a broad topic in one paragraph. Therefore, it is necessary to narrow the topic to a specific aspect such as environmental pollution. However, environmental pollution is still too broad for a paragraph, you might further narrow the topic to a type of environmental pollution such as pollution of the ocean.

2. Step two: Brainstorming

After you have chosen a topic and narrowed it, the next step is to generate ideas. This step is called brainstorming. There are three techniques used for brainstorming:

• listing
• freewriting
• clustering.

2.1 Listing:

Listing is a brainstorming method in which you think about your topic and make a list of words and phrases that come into your mind. Follow these simple steps:

• Write down the topic
• Make a list of ideas
• Don't worry about spelling and grammatical mistakes
  
  
  

Practice:

• The internet as a learning tool
• The characteristics of a good student
• Tourist destination in your country

2.2 Freewriting:

Freewriting is another brainstorming technique. In this brainstorming activity, you write freely about a topic since you are looking for a specific focus. Don't worry about spelling, logic, and organization, just keep the pencil moving. Follow these simple steps:

• Write down the topic
• Write until you run out of ideas
• Re-read your work and circle the main ideas related to your topic
  

Practice:

• Problems faced by International Students
• Cultural shock faced by International students in America

2.3 Clustering:

Clustering is also a brainstorming technique. In the center of your paper write down your topic inside a balloon. Then generate ideas about the topic and write them down around the balloon.

Practice:
Generate ideas about your family by using the cluster technique.

II. Writing Process: Stage Two

In stage first, you choose a topic and narrowed it down, and you generate ideas through the process of brainstorming. Stage second is the process of writing and planning. In planning, you organize the ideas into an outline.

1. Making an Outline:

Making an outline involves three steps: making a sublist, writing the topic sentence, and outlining. 

1. In the first step of making an outline you divide the ideas into sublists and cross out the items that are not usable. 
   
   
   
2. Next, you write down the topic sentence. The topic sentence is a general sentence in a paragraph and it focuses on the main idea. In this step, you write the possible sentences. 
   
   
   
3. Finally, an outline is a plane for a paragraph. In this step, you write the main points and subpoints in logical order.
   

Practice:

Develop an outline for the following topics
Classroom environment
British family life

III. Writing Process: Stage Three

After stage, I (prewriting) and stage II (planning) stage III is the stage of writing and revising several drafts until a final copy is to handover. It is important to remember that the first draft is never perfect. Each time when you write a new draft your writing will improve.

Step One: Writing the First Draft

In this step, you write the first draft from your outline. You write down the topic sentence and highlight it. By doing this you will remember the main focus of your paragraph. After this, write your paragraph by following your outline closely. You can also include those ideas that are not in your outline, if you are sure that they are relevant.

Step Two: Revising Content and Organization

When you write the first draft, the next step is to revise it. While revising your draft you check the content and organization (unity, coherence, logic). In this step, you change, re-arrange, add and delete ideas.  Remember, this stage does not correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, or sentence structure. Follow these simple steps:

• Read your draft for a general overview
• make sure that your paragraph includes a topic sentence
• make sure that you develop the topic sentence with sufficient supporting detail
• Check unity and coherence
• Check Transitional signals

In the second draft, you rewrite your paragraph that includes all the necessary revisions.

Step Three: Proofreading the Second Draft

In this step, you check your paper for spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. In this step, follow the following guidelines:

• correct sentences
• check sentences for subject and verb
• check mechanics such as punctuation spelling and capitalization

Step Four: Writing the Final Copy

In the final copy be sure that you make all the necessary changes you noted in the second draft. Remember that writing is a continuous process of writing and re-writing until you are satisfied with the final copy.

Review of the above lesson:

Step I. Prewriting

• narrow your topic
• brainstorm your ideas

Step II. Planning

• makes an outline
• incorporate a topic sentence

Step III. Writing

• Write a rough/first draft

Step IV. Revising

• edit your first draft for content and organization

Step V. Rewriting

• write the second draft
• proofread it for grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure

Step VI. Write a final Copy

• write a final draft to handover