Prewriting/Planning

Prewriting activities include four components:

• Discovery and organization of ideas and content (brainstorming, talking, listening, observing, reading, watching film/videos, looking at pictures, researching, etc.)

• Selection of the appropriate Writing Form/Mode (story, poem, script, essay, etc.)

• Consideration of Point of View (objective or subjective; first, second or third person point of view)

• Concerns with 

  • Purpose of Writing:

    • to express ideas, feelings, emotions, opinions

    • to narrate, to entertain or amuse (story, anecdote, tall tale, dialogue, ...)

    • to explore the inner self (memories, wishes, dreams, speculations, ...)

    • to explain to others or instruct (directions, instructions, explanations...)

    • to describe (descriptive passage, poetry, profile...)

    • to inform others (message, memo, report, business letter...)

    • to experiment with new forms, ideas and techniques

    • to argue (essay, debate)

    • to persuade (essay, advertisement, commercial)

    • to organize or plan (notes, outline, strategy)

    • to question (interview, dialogue, report, letter)

    • to think through ideas, concepts, problems on paper

  • Audiences for Writing

    • self

    • friend

    • teacher

    • trusted adult

    • family member/relative

    • someone special

    • people with a common interest

    • general audience - known or unknown

     

• Make sure you are familiar with the characteristics of effective writing.

• Use the writing checklist when you begin a piece.

Posted by Janice Biebrich on April 13/03