The Writing Process

JENNIFER LIETHEN KUNKA

Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab

How Do We Write?
We

Invention
How to?

Invention
Create a writing schedule based on the writing
assignment:

Argument Paper
5-7 pages, Times New Roman 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins.
Minimum of five cited sources: 3 must be from academic journals or
books
Outline due: 10/17; Draft due: 10/24; Final Draft due: 10/30

Sample schedule:

Invention
Before you start to write ask questions to explore
your rhetorical situation:
Purpose?
Audience?
Genre?
Style?
Research?

Invention Strategies

Ask more critical questions

Freewrite & brainstorm

Map & cluster

Keep a journal

Explore classic topics

Ask stasis questions
Use tagmemics
Record ideas without
revising or
proofreading
Invent and organize
ideas visually to
explore relationships,
processes
Write personal
explorations and
reflections on ideas

Composing
How to?

How Do We Write?

Conduct
research
Narrow the
topic
Develop the
thesis
Organize
ideas
Write the first
draft

Creating an Outline
I. Introduction
A. Set the context
B. Explain why the topic is important
C. State the thesis
II. Body
A. Build points
B. Develop ideas
C. Support the main claim
III. Conclusion
A. Reemphasize the main idea
B. Restate the thesis

Revising
How to?

Revising

Revising

Reviewing guide
Clear thesis?
Clear ideas?
Organization of the paper
From general to specific
Information to support the thesis?
Paragraph structure?
Supporting details?
Conclusion restates the thesis and
overviews the main ideas

Revising

Reviewing
strategies

Revising

Proofreading
guide
The paper appears professional?
Spelling and punctuation?
Sentences clear and easy to read?
Documentation style (MLA, APA, etc.)?

Revising

Proofreading strategies

Note: Spellchecks and grammar checks do not

identify all the errors in a paper.

Recap:
How Do We Write?
We

Where to Go
for More Help
Purdue University Writing Lab, Heavilon 226
Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Email brief questions to OWL Mail:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/contact/owlmailtutors

The End
THE WRITING PROCESS
JENNIFER LIETHEN KUNKA
Brought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab