Page 363 - Keys To Community College Success

APPENDIX A

The Writing Process

Writing a research paper or essay involves planning, drafting, revising, and editing.

Planning

The planning process involves six steps that help you think about the assignment:

Pay Attention to Logistics

These practical questions will help you decide on a topic and depth of coverage:
1. How much depth does my instructor expect and how long should the paper be?
2. How much time do I have? Consider your other courses and responsibilities.
3. What kind of research is needed? Your topic and purpose may determine this.
4. Is it a team project? If you are working with others, determine what each person
will do.

Generate Topic Ideas

Start the process of choosing a paper topic by creatively generating ideas within the
boundaries that your instructor has set (see Chapter 5).

■ Begin by writing down anything on the assigned subject that comes to mind,
in no particular order. Tap your multiple intelligences for creative ideas. To
jump-start your thoughts, scan your text and notes, check library or Internet
references, or meet with your instructor to discuss ideas.
■ Next, organize that list into an outline or think link so you can see different
possibilities.

Use Prewriting Strategies to Narrow Your Topic

Prewriting strategies, including freewriting and asking journalists’ questions, help
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you decide which possible topic you would most like to pursue. Use them to narrow
your topic, focusing on the specific sub-ideas and examples from your brainstorming
session.
■ Generating ideas. The same creative process you used to come up with ideas will
help you narrow your topic. Write down your thoughts about the possibilities
you have chosen, do some more research, and then organize your thoughts into
categories, noticing patterns that appear.
■ Freewriting. When you freewrite, you jot down whatever comes to mind without
censoring ideas or worrying about grammar, spelling, punctuation, or organization.
■ Asking journalists’ questions. When journalists start working on a story, they ask:
Who, what, where, when, why, and how? Asking these questions will help you
choose a specific topic.

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