The process and types of writing

The process and types of writing

Required and voluntary writing has a broad range of styles. A writing assignment succeeds by addressing a defined audience with content organized into an effective and/or convincing presentation. This sequence may help:

Essay and writing sequence

Develop your topic (1)
If a topic is not assigned, identify a subject that interests you...

Identify your audience (2)
Use this exercise to develop your audience and readership...

Research (3)
Develop your time line: allow for editing, revision and unexpected developments...

Organizing with notecards
Using the "Note Card System" can be very useful...

Summarizing research
An easy step by step process of
identifying critical information

Prewrite (4)
Prewriting exercises provide key words, meaning, and structure to...

Draft/write (5)
A rough draft is "a late stage in the writing process"...

Revise (6)
Before the revising/editing, take a break to gain a new perspective...

Proofread (7)
Intentionally separate "proofreading" from the "writing"...

Types of writing:

Consider what type of writing is assigned, and explore what will make it effective. For example, your diary has different purpose, components and style than an essay; a research proposal different purpose, components, and style than a white paper. The better you understand the task at hand, the more successful will be your writing.

The five-paragraph essay
Getting started means getting organized.
A good place to start if you are inexperienced in writing.

Essays for a literature class
Brainstorm the question/assignment: restate the key words...

Expository essays
When writing an expository essay, follow these eight basic steps...

Persuasive essays
In persuasive or argumentative writing, we try to convince others...

Position papers
Write a position paper to organize and outline your viewpoint on an issue...

Writing for the "Web"
The topic, its main idea, and its conclusion should be immediately visible, locatable, or knowable...

Open book exams
In an open book exam you are evaluated on understanding rather than recall...

Essay Exams
Before writing out the exam, write down its key words...

Research proposals
These recommendations do not guarantee a successful research application! They are intended to help you conceptualize and prepare a research proposal...

White papers
White papers introduce your product or technology as innovative...

Helpful guides can assist you:

Transitional words & phrases
Using transitional words and phrases helps papers read more smoothly...

Essay terms and directives
"Directives" ask you to answer, or present information, in a particular way...

Modifiers & commas
Grammar refers to the rules regarding the current standard of correctness...

Writing under deadline
Don't panic: organize! Whether you are meeting a publication deadline, over-booked, or procrastinating...

Writing Strategies Learned
Stephen Wilburs' reflections or blog on writing...

Don't forget to use words correctly!

Spelling strategies
English spelling rules are complex, with many exceptions...

Spelling rules & exercises
American spelling rules and exercises...

Common misspelled words
Words commonly misspelled,or spelled correctly but not used properly...

There | They're | Their
pronounced the same, but spelled differently according to usage...

Too | Two | To
pronounced the same, but spelled differently according to usage...

"Y" with suffixes
When "y" is the last letter in a word...

Prefixes and root words
As you go through this exercise, note that a word's root or stem is its foundation...

Suffixes and silent "e"
If a word ends with ...

Mapping vocabulary
The exercise will help you remember, use and understand a vocabulary word...

Picturing vocabulary
Use your mouse to draw what comes to mind about the given word...

American alphabet recited
Actor James Earl Jones recited the alphabet in 1.5 minutes as a test pilot for Sesame Street...

Cite your sources!

General guidelines on citing Websites

American Psychological Association (APA) style

Chicago style

Modern Language Association (MLA) style

Turabian/Harvard style

American Medical Association