English: The Writing Process

Prewriting - Think and Decide

• Make sure you understand your assignment.
• Decide on a topic to write about.
• Consider who will read your work.
• Brainstorm ideas about the subject and how these ideas can be organized.

Research - Search

• List places where you can find information.
• Do your research.
• Evaluate your sources.
• Make an outline to help organize your research.

Drafting - Write

• Write sentences and paragraphs even if they are not perfect.
• Create a thesis statement with your main ideas.
• Put the information you researched into your essay accurately without plagiarizing. Remember to include both in-text citations and a bibliographic page.
• Read what you have written and judge if it says what you mean. Write some more.
• Read it again.
• Write some more.
• Read it again.
• Write until you have said everything you want to say about the topic.

Revising - Make it Better

• Read what you have written again.
• Rearrange words, sentences, or paragraphs into a clear and logical order.
• Take out or add parts.
• Do more research if you think you should.
• Replaced overused or unclear words.
• Read your writing aloud to be sure it flows smoothly. Add transitions.

Editing and Proofreading - Make it Correct

• Be sure all sentences are complete.
• Correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
• Change words that are not used correctly or are unclear.
• Make sure you are using the appropriate style formatting. (MLA, APA, Chicago)
• Have someone else check your work.

The Writing Center offers individual writing conferences with English majors and graduate students staff. The services are free and available to all WKU students.