PREWRITING Writing occurs in stages. Writing is a process whose finished product is a sentence, a paragraph, an essay, etc. Prewriting is the first stage during which the writer needs to consider three main factors: topic, audience, and purpose. A student may have to deal with two different types of topics: assigned topics or chosen topics. If the topic is assigned the directions for the assignment will limit and determine the approach to take. Instructions must be read carefully and directions must be followed exactly. If the student is free to select a topic, it is important to reflect on the value and meaning of the finished product. A writer should select something he is interested in and knowledgeable about, but he should also anticipate the desired effect he hopes to achieve and the reader's reaction he is looking for. Any topic can generate an interesting discussion, if one considers the following possibilities: selecting an uncommon topic or using a new and original approach for an old topic. Audience's experience and knowledge of the subject needs to be considered for communication to be effective: too technical and specialized information may be above the reader's level of comprehension; a too basic or simple approach will bore the reader. The question to ask is: What does the reader have to gain from reading this essay? The purpose will be to inform, to entertain, or to persuade. Often these purposes will be combined in a paper, each purpose occurring in function of another. The main purpose of prewriting activities is to find the focus of the paper. Focus is the point on which all energy is concentrated. If the topic is too broad, the paper will be vague, superficial, and likely disorganized. To determine if the topic is limited enough, consider the audience. You may want to take a general approach if your audience does not have specific knowledge of the subject. You are also limited by our own knowledge of the subject. You cannot be specific about something you know little about. Of course, research will give you needed information about a topic. Once you decide on the approach you may begin gathering ideas. Remember that you can always change the focus of your paper provided that you have enough time to make the necessary adjustments. If you have trouble limiting the subject, a prewriting activity may help you find the focus. Try these prewriting techniques: FREEWRITING BRAINSTORMING LIST MAKING ASKING QUESTIONS KEEPING A JOURNAL READING ABOUT A TOPIC OUTLINING LOOPING The next step will be organizing the ideas that have been generated so far. Those ideas will have to be evaluated. Some will de deleted. New ones will be added. Some will be moved. Some
will be expanded. Some will be categorized (grouped together). Also you
need to rank ideas for importance.
The result should be a tentative outline. You may want to use a topic
tree.
Example topic: television shows Limiting the topic: comedies, Married with children and Leave it to Beaver Method: comparison/contrast Brainstorming: unrealistic, offensive, values, Thesis: While today's comedy Married with children reflects our relaxed morals, older shows such as Leave it to Beaver portray an unrealistic picture of yesterday's values. Other thesis: TV shows reflect the values of the time during which they were produced. Tentative outline I. Married with Children
2. Example
2. Attitudes toward sex
In general, remember that before you attempt to write a draft you should understand what the assignment is asking you to do, you should allow enough time to think about your specific approach, and you should time yourself so the you can make the best use of the allotted time.
This page was last updated on February 15, 1998
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