Three Stages of Writing Process

STAGE 1: PRE-WRITING ACTIVITIES

These are the activities that you need to do before you start writing. They are important as they help you to plan your ideas well. Pre-writing activities help you identify the topic of interest and gets the thesis statement. You may choose any one of the following activities:

• • brainstorming
  • diagramming
  • scratch outline
  • free writing

STAGE 2: WHILE-WRITING ACTIVITIES

Once you’ve an outline of what you want to write, then you can begin Stage 2 which is drafting the essay. Take note that when you write an essay, one draft is not enough. You may need to write up to three drafts in order to perfect it. Here’s what you need to do at this stage:

• • start writing
  • write the thesis statement
  • write the main ideas for each paragraph
  • write the supporting details for each paragraph
  • write the conclusion

STAGE 3: POST-WRITING ACTIVITIES

These are activities that you need to do after completing the draft. It ensures that you check the essay and edit them before you hand in your essay.

• revising
  • go through the whole essay and change if necessary
• editing
  • check the flow of ideas, grammar, spelling, punctuation