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Writing: An Introduction

This article provides an introduction to writing development and how to teach the writing process.

Children develop an awareness that print is meaningful and that it has many functions. Young children learn that print gives us information - such as directions or how to bake our favorite cookies. They also learn that print helps us solve problems, like the written instructions for putting together a swing-set.

With exposure to books, children learn that print has meaning to those who read it. They learn that print can entertain and amuse us. Just as children advance through stages of reading development, they also advance through stages of writing development. Through experiences with writing, children learn to distinguish between drawing and writing.

Writing development

While students are building the skills they need to advance through the stages of writing such as letter formation, spelling, and sentence creation, students also need to be taught the stages of writing development: generating and organizing ideas, initially with a group or partner; producing a rough draft; sharing ideas with others for the purpose of gaining feedback; and revising, editing, proofreading, and publishing.

It is important to note that writers move back and forth between the different processes of writing. They learn that their first attempts at writing may not be their best and need to be refined.

The writing process

• Brainstorming

  Students generate ideas for writing: gathering ideas on topic; reading literature, creating webs, and story charts.

• Rough Draft or "Sloppy Copy"

  Students get their preliminary ideas on paper. They write without concern for -rules. Written work does not have to be neat.

• Reread

  Students proof their own work by re-reading their piece of writing. They read to make sure it makes sense to the reader.

• Revise

  Improve what the story says and how it says it: write additions and details. Take out unnecessary sentences. Use peer suggestions to improve.

• Editing

  Work together with peers or teacher on editing for mechanics and spelling. Make sure the work is free from errors.

• Final Draft or "final copy"

  Students produce their final copy to discuss with the teacher and write a final draft.

• Publishing

  Students publish their written pieces: Students convert the finished product into a final format. Formats may include creating stories into books or typing them on a computer. Celebrate!

Some schools have additional steps in the writing process. For example, some schools use a version that includes peer or class conference (student reads draft aloud to someone) and a teacher edit (teacher proofreads and makes suggestions prior to the "final copy").

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