STAGES OF A WRITING PROCESS                                     Lightfoot
This handout helps writers think through their next moves on a paper. It also reminds teachers that showing a student which drafting stage a paper is in instructs the writer in what to do next, and is much more useful than trying to assess a Stage 2 draft as if it were in Stage 4.
DEVELOP A STRONG PURPOSE:
Don't just "do a  paper." Make every assignment your own assignment.
TRUST THE PROCESS:
Language leads to language. So:
When you're stuck and just can't write ... write!
Use various stages of the writing process to keep you going.
BE STRATEGIC:
To start or restart a draft, choose an activity within a stage to work with awhile.
When a draft is flowing well, forget stages and just keep writing.
BUT be sure to revise, edit, and proofread eventually.
*STAGE
ACTIVITY
1
*PREWRITING
Goal:  to fill 1-2  pages,
or to write words until
drafting starts to flow. 
 Analyze and mark the assignment the teacher gave you. 
Gather ideas and information by making notes and outlining your textual annotations. 
Take notes as you talk about your topic to a teacher, to a friend, or to yourself. 
Rough out a working thesis (this may change radically as the essay takes shape). 
Brainstorm -- list, mind-map, or free-write evidence and ideas for paper content.
2
*DRAFTING
Goal: to rough out 
the required length
plus 20-50% more
 Unpack the key terms of your working thesis to give yourself several related ideas to use. 
Use the key terms of your thesis to generate ideas for your paragraphs. 
Use the key terms of each paragraph’s governing idea to generate material for the paragraph. 
Use your brainstorm material to develop each paragraph with reasoning and evidence.
3
*REVISING
Goal: to complete, 
sharpen, & organize 
the argument
 		 Rewrite your thesis to reflect the argument developed in the draft. 
Condense & expand content as needed to make every part strong and complete. 
Sequence paragraphs to create a beginning, middle, and end for the argument. 
Add transitions as needed for cohesion between paragraphs. 
Give each paragraph a clear beginning, middle, and end. 
Write an introduction and a conclusion.
4a
*EDITING
Goal: to make the 
writing effective
 Read your work aloud; listen for emphasis and cohesion in & between sentences. 
Add transitions as needed for cohesion between sentences. 
Make sure every word is the right one to communicate exactly what you mean. 
Omit needless words.
Make sure all material from other sources has proper citations. 
4b
*PROOFREADING
Goal:to fix errors
 Adopt and use a proofreading strategy.
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