English Grammar and Composition chapter 12: Writing Process

THE WRITING PROCESS

The process of writing includes some steps. When you want to write a letter to your friends, relatives or to the Headmaster of your school, you should follow that process. Again, if you want to write a paragraph, composition or a story, you should know about the process. This process will help you to write freely.

Now look at the three main stages of writing process:

Figure

Labels: Preparing to write, Drafting, Revising Description: Three boxes joined left to right by hollow arrows: "Preparing to write", then "Drafting", then "Revising".

The writing process also depends on:

Figure

Labels: Why you are writing (purpose); Who are going to read it (e.g. friend, parents, Headmaster, Principal); What are you writing about (content); Where you are, how much time you have to write, etc. (situation) Description: A boxed list of four dash-bulleted points, each beginning with a bold keyword: Why, Who, What, Where.

In brief, the process of any piece of writing depends on:

• purpose
• readers
• content
• situation

Let us now, move to the steps in details:

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Preparing to write

We need some preparations to write. When we write, we think of the purpose, content and situation of writing. Preparations may also differ. For example, your letter to your friend is different from the letter to your parents. Again, when you are very busy, you send a very short message. But when you are not so busy, you could write a longer text.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO FIRST AT THIS STAGE

Gathering Idea:

Gathering idea or information is essential for your writing. Brainstorming can help you gather your idea.

BRAINSTORMING

It means you 'storm' your brain or search your brain for ideas.

Figure

Description: A grey silhouette of a human head in profile, with a brain drawn inside it made of puzzle pieces and concentric circles; the area around the head is filled with small icons of science, technology and everyday objects.

Take 5 minutes if you do it alone and take more time if you work with a partner or in a group. This is a very speedy process. So, here you:

• Write down very quickly.
• Write down everything that comes to your mind. Don't think if they are useful or not.
• Write down the main points only.
• You could write down the points in words or phrases. Never think that you must write sentences.

Now, think about ideas for a paragraph about bees. Look at the following images:

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Here you can visualize the following images:

Figure

Labels: বাংলাদেশ; Apis indica; ৳ 6; BANGLADESH; HONEY Description: Six photographs in two rows. Top row: a honeybee on a white flower; a honeycomb in a tree; three white lit candles. Bottom row: a honeycomb built into a branch; a Bangladesh postage stamp showing a bee labelled "Apis indica" with values "৳ 6" and "৳ 5"; a jar of honey labelled "HONEY".

Thus the following points can come into your head from brainstorming:

Figure

Labels: BEES; flowers; insect; apis indica; candle; honey; collect honey Description: A mind map with "BEES" in the centre oval. Arrows branch out to six ovals: "flowers", "insect" (which has an arrow to "apis indica"), "candle", "honey", and "collect honey".

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The next step is Speed Writing

This is a kind of activity for writing freely.

• Take 5/6 minutes.
• Write as much as possible on a topic.
• Write whatever comes into your head.
• Continue writing, don't stop until the time is up.
• Don't worry about correction, spelling or neatness at this stage.

Asking 'Wh' Questions

To collect information, at this stage you can ask yourself 'WH' questions. But, here again, it depends on content. For example, you can ask questions about 'Bees' like:

• What are they?
• What do they do?
• Where do they live?
• What do they live on?
• What do we get from them?
• How else do they help us?

But here you are writing as much as possible. So, don't think much about grammatical rules, structures, spelling, and punctuation. Look at the sample speed writing on 'Bees'.

Bees are insects. They are hardworking and quick. They are flying from flowers to flowers. They make honey. We take honey. It is very tasty and sweet. They live in bee hives. They take honey and save honey. Many people collect and sell honey. Collecting honey is not easy.

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The next step of your writing is 'planning'.

PLANNING

After brainstorming, asking 'WH' questions to yourself and speed writing, you have got your topic, sufficient ideas, and information in mind in your notes. Now it is time to make a plan for your writing.

Planning includes:

• The length of the writing
• Number of paragraphs
• How should I introduce the topic?
• Which information should go first, second and the rest?
• How should I conclude?

DRAFTING

The actual writing begins with 'drafting'. In drafting, you will carry out your planning. Drafting needs revision. So you can allow space after every line.

Below is a sample drafting of a paragraph on bees.

Bees are insects. They fly flower to flower to collect honey. They live in bee hives. They deposit honey there. There are some people, who collect honey from bee hives. They sell honey. We eat honey. It is very tasty, sweet and good for health. Collecting honey is not easy. People get stung by bees ----------

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REVISING

It is the last stage before we produce the actual writing. You can revise while drafting or after you have finished drafting. When you revise, you must consider:

• if it is appropriate for the reader.
• if it clearly states your purpose.
• if it is well-organized.
• if it contains all things you wanted to write.

Understanding the Organization of Writing

PARAGRAPH

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one topic. There are three parts of a paragraph. These are:

• The Introduction
• The Middle
• The Conclusion

Their position is sequential. Below is the diagram of a paragraph.

Figure

Labels: Introduction, Middle, Conclusion Description: Three boxes stacked vertically, joined by downward arrows: "Introduction" at the top, "Middle" in the centre, "Conclusion" at the bottom.

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THE PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH

Introduction/Topic Sentence

The introduction of a paragraph contains an introductory sentence. It is called a topic sentence. Generally a paragraph begins with it. The topic sentence introduces your topic.

To write a good topic sentence:

• State the topic clearly so that the reader can understand what you are going to write about.
• Your topic sentence should be attractive.

MIDDLE

The middle of a paragraph contains supporting ideas. Here you narrate, explain and thus support what you said in the introduction. It should contain the details of your description.

To write the middle:

• Narrate everything you want to write about your topic.
• If needed, classify your ideas.
• Put them clearly one after another and make a link between them.

CONCLUSION

It is the last part of your paragraph. Here you make a final say about your topic. To write a conclusion – avoid repetition and sum up your ideas.