SJCS Writing Handbook

The Writing Process

Writing is a process. Mastery of this process is critical for all who seek to become competent and eective writers, and it is considered a fundamental skill for all graduates of St Joseph’s Catholic School. It provides individuals with a place to begin and a path to follow. The writing process can be divided into five steps: pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and formatting. Each step is essential

Pre-Writing

The prewriting process enables individuals to take stock of their ideas, their audience, and what they hope to accomplish through their composition. The prewriting process can be divided into several parts: assessing the writing situation, exploring the subject, drafting a working thesis, and planning the writing.

When students assess the writing situation, they consider their audience and evaluate the parameters and the aim of their writing While exploring the subject, writers research their topic through reading, listening, and discussing. They may also reflect upon their own thoughts and ideas through brainstorming and the use of graphic organizers.

The prewriting process should culminate in a working thesis statement, whereby writers formally establish their task for the composition they are constructing. This statement will further enable them to plan out their work through the process of outlining.

There are several skills that all students should acquire over the course of their time at St. Joseph’s in regards to the prewriting process, which teachers should consistently encourage

● Evaluating Sources

● Annotated Bibliographies

● Note Taking

● Summarizing

● Paraphrasing

● Outlining