Writing Process
Name the six steps of the writing process and briefly describe each.
Invention, Planning, Drafting, Revising, Editing, Reflecting.
What essay component states the writer's main claim and prefaces the supporting reasons?
The thesis statement.
What is "ethos"? Provide an example of how a writer might establish ethos (A writer can establish ethos by ____.).
Ethos: An author's reputation and credibility.
E.g., by citing credible sources, indicating credentials or expertise, writing in a style accessible to the audience, etc.
Describe at least two activities that might take place during the Invention stage.
Free-writing, listing, creating an idea web (e.g., the community web assignment), talking about ideas with a partner, etc.
Describe how the concepts of "unity" and "coherence" relate to crafting an effective body paragraph.
Unity: The paragraph focuses on one main idea. This idea is articulated in the topic sentence.
Coherence: The main idea is adequately developed.
What is "pathos"? Provide an example of how a writer might appeal to pathos (A writer can make an appeal to pathos by ____.).
Pathos: appeal to emotion.
E.g., Sharing a personal story to gain sympathy, using emotive language to get a reaction, using a style that indicates the writer cares deeply about the topic, etc.
True or False: Editing and revising are essentially the same stage in the writing process. Explain.
False. During revision, the writer makes content level changes and additions in an effort to help the piece achieve its intended effect. During editing, the writer makes small edits to syntax, punctuation, and formatting.
For your final research paper, what are the four main sections to include? Briefly describe each, explaining what content should be addressed.
Intro, literature review, proposing a solution section, and conclusion.
What is "logos"? Provide an example of how a writer might use logos (A writer can make an appeal to logos by ____.).
Logos: Appeal to factual information and use of effective structure.
E.g., Drawing comparisons to support an argument, using a conventional essay structure to help the audience understand the argument, etc.
Why is Planning an important step before beginning to draft?
Planning is a crucial step before drafting because it provides a roadmap for the piece's purpose. It allows the writer to take the raw ideas generated during invention and begin to shape them into a coherent structure. This involves organizing and rearranging ideas to help the writer begin to write toward their purpose. It might seem like an extra step, but taking a moment to get organized can accelerate drafting.
Explain why the conclusion of your final paper is more than just a summary of your main points.
Beyond summarizing, your paper's conclusion synthesizes your arguments, showing how they connect and why they matter. In research, it can also touch on remaining questions or future directions. Ultimately, it provides closure and emphasizes the significance of your work.
Name the five key elements of the rhetorical situation (see handout) and briefly explain each.
Audience: Who is it intended for?
Author: Who created it?
Topic: What is it about?
Purpose: What is it trying to achieve? (Persuade, inform, manipulate, etc.)
Context: What's happening around the text? Why does the text need to exist?
Explain why the writing process is considered "recursive." Provide an example.
The writing process is considered "recursive" because writers rarely move through its stages in a strict, linear sequence from invention to reflection. Instead, they often cycle back and forth between different steps as needed. This happens because new ideas, insights, or challenges can emerge at any point in the process. For example, a writer might complete a draft and then, during reflection, realize that their initial purpose was unclear. This realization could lead them to revisit the invention and planning stages to refine their focus before undertaking significant revisions.
Explain the role of a topic sentence in a body paragraph.
A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a body paragraph. It tells the reader what the paragraph will be about and often links back to the essay's main argument, guiding the paragraph's focus. It also helps paragraphs to achieve unity.
Explain one way understanding the rhetorical method can be useful when evaluating sources for a research project. (It's useful to assess how the appeal to _____ is operating because _____.)
Ethos: Is the author credible? Has their work stood the test of peer review?
Kairos: Is the source still relevant, or is more recent and accurate information available?
Logos: How is the author's logical reasoning? Does it make sense? Do they present their ideas in a way that makes sense?
Pathos: What biases are present? How do they impact the presentation of information? Is the author trying to persuade or manipulate you?