Using Process Writing
by Dorothy E. Zemach
Writing ought to be the easiest of
the four skills for students. Unlike the
listener or the reader, the writer controls all the words. And unlike the speaker, the writer can plan
what to produce well in advance; then once the writing is produced, they can go
back, check it, and revise it. And yet,
many students struggle with writing more than with the other skills. Process writing is a method of approaching this skill that allows
students to take advantage of the opportunities writing offers. Process writing is generally agreed to mean
that the writer follows these steps:
1 Brainstorming
2 Organizing
3 Drafting
4 Editing / Revising
5 Publishing
Inexperienced—or
unsuccessful—writers, whether they are native or nonnative speakers, are often
tempted to begin at Step 3—writing the first draft. After all, wouldn’t it be faster and more
efficient to use three steps instead of five? However, this often ends up costing the
student more time.
