Transcript comparing the writing process to building a house

The Writing Process
A writing process is any
system you use in order to
produce a better piece of
writing.
Our process has four key
players:
Madman
Architect
Carpenter
Inspector
Think in terms of preparing
and building a house.
Stage 1 MADMAN
• This is the idea man.
• He has all of these different
ideas zooming around in his
head, and he just has to get
them all out on paper.
MADMAN ACTIVITIES
• Simple brainstorming:
Put your topic at the top of a blank sheet of paper and write
everything that comes to your mind when thinking about
your topic.
• Listing:
Write your ideas and thoughts in a list or column on the
blank page.
• Webbing or clustering:
Write your topic in the center and circle it. Then as you
think of things about your topic, consider how they are
related to each other and place them on your paper with
lines attaching them to other related thoughts.
Stage 2 ARCHITECT
• This is the designer or
planner.
• He has to try to look at
all of the Madman’s
ideas and organize them
. His job is to come up
with a blueprint, design,
or plan for the paper.
ARCHITECT ACTIVITIES
• Formal Outline:
Make a formal outline with headings and subheadings. Make
sure the outline sections are parallel and indented properly.
• General Divisions:
This is similar to a formal outline; however, it does not have
the strict form of the formal outline. For this type of plan,
you simply write down your major areas in your topic and a
few minor subsections or details.
• Graphic Organizer:
Use one of the charts or diagrams we studied to outline
your topic.
Stage 3 CARPENTER
• This is the actual
builder. He uses the
plans that the
architect designed,
and he begins to
build by putting
sentences and
paragraphs
together.
CARPENTER ACTIVITIES
• Drafting:
1. This is the first attempt at writing your paper.
The carpenter gathers all of his tools (prewriting,
outlines, notes, dictionary, resources, etc.) and
begins to assemble the paper.
2. He makes sure that he constantly checks the
architect’s plans, so he can keep the paper
organized and on track.
3. The carpenter needs to build the foundation first,
and he needs to ensure that each paragraph has
enough material to support the statements he is
making, just like a real carpenter must use
materials and structures that will support each
floor of the building he is constructing.
Stage 4 INSPECTOR
• This is the time
when you go back
through your draft
and look for anything
that needs to be
changed, deleted,
added, rearranged,
or corrected.
INSPECTOR ACTIVITIES
Proofreading:
1. Check for any misspelled words, incorrect
grammar, and punctuation mistakes.
2. Have someone reliable read your work and
evaluate it.
3. Check for organization and make sure every
sentence is relevant to the topic.
4. Make sure you have supported your ideas
with clear details or arguments.
FINAL WORDS
• Remember that the writing
process is a cycle. After the
Inspector stage, you may have to
go back to the Carpenter stage
again to fix problems or rewrite
sections. You may also have to go
all the way back to the Architect
stage to redesign part or all of
your plan or reorganize it to
make more sense.
• However, if you practice and use
this process, you will see
improvement in your writing.