WRITING PROCESS
Q. 1. What is Writing Process and what is the method
of Topic Selection in this process?
Writing Process
Writing process is a set of mental and physical steps that someone takes to create
any type of text. Almost always, these activities require inscription equipment,
either digital or physical; each of these tools has unique affordances that influence
writers' workflows. Writing processes are very individualized and task-specific;
they frequently incorporate activities such as talking, drawing, reading, browsing,
and other activities that are not typically associated with writing
Steps to Selecting a Topic
Introduction
Before choosing your essay
topic, be sure to consider the assignment directions. You should understand the
purpose of the assignment, how many and what types of sources you need, the
length requirement, and when the essay is due. All of these elements influence
what topic will work to satisfy your assignment.
Your topic should be something that you already know something about,
something you would like to learn more about, and something you care about.
Also consider what topics you react to, are puzzled by, are skeptical about, or
which inspire you. When you have a strong reaction to a topic, you are likely to
find more to say about it.
Solution: Choosing an Approach to Your Topic
Deliberately choosing how you approach your topic will help you not only choose
one that will satisfy the requirements, but also ensure that you enjoy the process
of writing. After all, no one on earth can do what you do. So, only you can figure
out how to write a great essay in your own voice.
It all starts with selecting a topic. How you approach that selection process is
vastly important.
The key is to identify what interests you in the first place, so place that interest at
the heart of your topic. Look to what you were interested in as a way of finding
your topic! Use that initial fascination to twist the topic of your paper so that it
becomes an excuse to wallow in whatever got you interested in that class in the
first place.
Avoiding the Pit of Despair
Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your work is simply a
required box that needs to be checked and you can’t bring any creativity to the
table. There are ways to make almost any writing task enjoyable, or at least
something you gain something interesting out of.
How to Come Up with a Topic to Write About
Many people are intimidated by the thought of writing. One of the biggest factors
that can contribute to writers’ block is not knowing what to write about. If you
can find a topic that interests you, your writing will likely flow more readily and
you will be more likely to write a successful piece. Use a variety of strategies for
coming up with something to write about to find what works best for your writing
and learning style.
Understand the Essay Assignment
Understanding the assigned essay is the first step to coming up with a topic.
Knowing the type of essay that is expected, the length of the essay, and to what
degree research is expected will all determine the scope of the topic you will
choose.
Evaluate the Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of the assignment will also determine the type of topic. A persuasive
essay, for example, will have a much different type of topic than a personal
experience essay.
• Look for key action words like compare, analyze, describe, synthesize, and
contrast. These words will help you determine the right topic.
Select a Topic from a Provided List
If your instructor has provided a list of topics for you, choose a topic from the
given list. It is likely that the topics have been gathered together because they are
an appropriate scope and breadth and the instructor has found that the topics have
led to successful essays in the past.
• Choose the topic for which a main idea comes most naturally and for which
you feel you can develop the paper easily.
Brainstorm a List of Ideas
Write down a list of ideas that come to mind. They don’t have to be good ideas,
but it’s good to just start writing a list to get your ideas flowing. Just write down
everything you can think of; you can evaluate the ideas later.
Q.2. Mention characteristics of Paragraph Development.
Introduction
A paragraph is a collection of sentences which all relate to one main idea or topic.
Effective paragraphs have four main characteristics: a topic sentence, unity,
coherence, and adequate development. Each of these characteristics is discussed
below.
Unity
Unity refers to the extent to which all of the ideas contained within a given
paragraph "hang together" in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. When
the writer changes to a new idea -- one which is not consistent with the topic
sentence of the paragraph -- the writer should begin a new paragraph. Unity is
important because it aids the reader in following along with the writer's ideas.
The reader can expect that a given paragraph will deal only with one main topic;
when a new paragraph begins, this signals that the writer is moving on to a new
topic.
Coherence
Coherence refers to the extent to which the flow of ideas in a paragraph is easily
understood by the reader. For this reason, coherence is closely related to unity.
When a writer changes main ideas or topics within a paragraph, confusion often
results. To achieve coherence, then, a writer should show how all of the ideas
contained in a paragraph are relevant to the main topic.
Adequate Development
A paragraph is adequately developed when it describes, explains and supports the
topic sentence. If the "promise" of the topic sentence is not fulfilled, or if the
reader is left with questions after reading the paragraph, the paragraph has not
been adequately developed. Generally speaking, a paragraph which consists of
only two or three sentences is under-developed. A good rule of thumb to follow
is to make sure that a paragraph contains at least four sentences which explain
and elaborate on the topic sentence.
Generally speaking, a paragraph should contain between three and five sentences,
all of which help clarify and support the main idea of the paragraph. When a
writer begins a new paragraph, it signals to the reader that the writer is changing
thoughts or ideas, or is moving on to discuss a different aspect of a main idea.
Topic Sentences
Beginning a paragraph with a topic sentence is one of the best ways to achieve
clarity and unity in one's writing. The function of a topic sentence is to describe
what the paragraph will be about, such that the reader has clear expectations about
what will follow. An effective topic sentence typically contains only one main
idea. The remainder of the paragraph then develops that idea more fully, offering
supporting points and examples. After reading a topic sentence, one should be
able to anticipate the type of information contained in the rest of the paragraph.
If the remainder of the paragraph does not fulfil the "promise" of the topic
sentence, the paragraph will lack unity, coherence and adequate development.
Q.3 What are the Methods for Effective Paragraph Development?
Stay Focused: Ensure each paragraph focuses on a single idea. Avoid
introducing multiple topics within one paragraph.
Use Transitions: Incorporate transitional words and phrases to connect your
ideas smoothly, creating a logical flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Be Specific: Use specific details and examples to support your points, making
your argument more convincing and your writing more engaging.
Revise and Edit: After writing, review your paragraphs for clarity and
coherence. Ensure each sentence contributes to the main idea and that your
paragraph transitions are smooth.
Q. 4. What is the importance of Paragraph Transitions in
writing process?
An important part of essay writing is learning how to effectively employ
paragraph transitions—shifting from one paragraph or idea to the next. Learning
to effectively use the different types of transitions will help you write more
cohesive pieces and improve the clarity of your writing
What Is a Paragraph Transition?
A paragraph transition is a sentence or unique paragraph that helps the reader
move from one paragraph to the next, or from one idea to another. A transition is
the first sentence of a new paragraph. Occasionally, the last sentence of the prior
paragraph acts as the transition. When a writer wants to transition link two
substantial paragraphs, they can use a standalone transitional paragraph.
Paragraph transitions serve a variety of purposes, and understanding how they
function within the context of a larger piece of writing is essential to clear writing.
Here are a few reasons why paragraph transitions are important and should be
included in your writing:
1. Paragraph transitions link ideas. First and foremost, paragraph transitions
serve to link two ideas. A body paragraph is generally devoted to a main idea or
concept that fits into the larger piece and explores a facet of the primary thesis
statement. A transition sentence links your first paragraph to your second
paragraph and so forth.
2. Paragraph transitions give your writing momentum. Paragraph
transitions are incredibly helpful when it comes to building momentum in your
writing. Effective transitions propel your essay forward and keep your readers
engaged. This is particularly important in academic writing or professional
writing that can otherwise feel dry or static.
3. Paragraph transitions improve readability. Transition words can help
your readers track your ideas and understand how they relate to each other.
Thoughtful transitions clue readers in to the progression of your ideas and your
overall train of thought.
4. Paragraph transitions set the stage for new ideas. While effective
transitions should tie up loose ends for material in the previous paragraph, it’s
sometimes more important that they set the stage for the new ideas to come in the
next paragraph. A written piece should have forward momentum, and transitions
serve to prepare the reader for new information to come.
Q.5. How to Transition Between Paragraphs in Your Writing
Understanding why we use paragraph transitions in the first place is obviously
important, but learning how to effectively employ good transitions in your writing
can sometimes come only through practice. That said, here are some tips that can
help you get started as you begin to use transitions in your writing.
1. Outline your piece. Using an outline is vital to improving your writing
process and should generally come before you start writing your piece. Outlining
is important when you are working on transitional expressions and transition
sentences because outlines give you a macro view of your piece as a whole, with
signposts indicating the main ideas of each paragraph. Referring back to your
outline can help you brainstorm types of transitions that set the stage for what’s
to come and help your ideas flow. Use our guide for tips on how to outline your
novel.
2. Identify the subject of each paragraph. Once you’ve consulted your
outline, it’s time to hone in on the main ideas of the paragraphs on either side of
your transition. A good transition will have something to say about both the
preceding paragraph and the new paragraph.
3. Track the overall arc of your piece. Transitions link two specific
paragraphs, but make sure you have an eye on the overall arc of your essay. If
you have a good sense of the bigger picture you can use your transitions to set up
information that is still to come, beyond the next paragraph.
4. Brainstorm good transitional words. Transitional phrases often have
similar word choice and style. Linking words and conjunctive adverbs are often
used in paragraph transitions because they help establish the relationship between
two separate ideas. Words like “therefore,” “nevertheless,” “although,” and
“namely” quickly sum up how one idea relates to the next. Effective transition
words keep your reader hooked into your piece.
5. Consider cause and effect. It’s not enough to simply link two subjects;
transitional sentences should also effectively demonstrate how these ideas build
on each other. This is especially true in academic writing or persuasive essay
writing. It’s your job to convince your reader that you have built a coherent
argument for your main thesis statement. Transition sentences can help show
readers how your ideas build on each other and conceptually link one entire
paragraph to the paragraph that follows.
6. Pay attention to style. The way that you transition between paragraphs and
the types of transitions you use will depend on what type of piece you are writing.
If you’re writing a high school- or college-level academic essay, you’ll probably
want to avoid overly colloquial transitions. If you’re writing a personal essay or
light-hearted humour piece, you should choose transitions that complement the
voice of the piece.
7. Review your transition sentences separate from your piece. Once you’ve
finished your piece, it’s useful to take a look at all your transitions out of context
to make sure that you haven’t overused certain constructions or repeated word
choice. Looking at a list of your transitions can also give you a good roadmap for
the overall shape of your essay and can help you decide if you’ve built a cohesive
piece of writing.
Q.6. How to write a conclusion in Writing Process?
A conclusion is a crucial element in an essay or an article because it clarifies and
provides insight into the topic. Knowing what to consider when drafting a
conclusion makes it easier to write an effective one. Here is an outline of a
conclusion for you to use in writing process and provides examples of ineffective
and effective conclusions.
The steps to draft an effective conclusion:
Summarize the writing: A useful conclusion reminds the reader of the topic
and the aim of your writing. Note that it is counterproductive to repeat the points
in writing. Instead, author’s views are to be subtly restated while preserving its
purpose and provide a context for further discussion.
Repeat your supporting arguments: Try to reiterate the statements you made
throughout the writing with a thorough summary in conclusion.
Connect your introductory and concluding paragraphs: Reminding the
reader of the introductory statements made in your conclusion allows the reader
to feel that the writing project is complete. You can achieve this by using similar
concepts, using the same imagery or making a connection between your opening
and closing statements. The format of a conclusion is the opposite of an
introductory paragraph. Whereas an introductory paragraph starts general and
ends on a specific note, a conclusion begins specific and ends on a more general
note.
Provide some useful observations: A conclusion should give the reader a
solution to a problem, a more in-depth comment, a call to action or questions to
explore in further studies. Try to provide insights into your conclusion's
implications and justify why people should care about the subject.
Give the readers some points to think about: Your conclusion can include a
sentence that suggests that they learn more about the topic of the paper.
Alternatively, you can also suggest that they try doing an action item that you
discussed in your paper.
