Student Question
What are the steps of the writing process?
Quick answer:
The writing process involves four main stages: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Prewriting includes research and planning, such as taking notes and creating outlines. Drafting involves writing down ideas in a preliminary form. Revising focuses on improving and refining the content, while editing involves checking for grammar and spelling errors to ensure the work is polished and error-free before submission.
The four main stages in the writing process (as described by MIT) are prewriting, drafting, revising and editing.
The first stage, prewriting, involves the preparations you make before beginning to write. If you're working on an argumentative essay or a research paper, for example, prewriting includes the research you complete before beginning the essay, along with whatever notes you gather as you build your own perspective. It might also include organizational prompts such as an outline.
The next stage is drafting, when you take your ideas and put them into written form. With that said, however, it is important to remember that drafts are not the final version. Rather, once you have finished writing your initial draft, you will then have to revise, rewrite, or tighten up the work in question.
Finally, once you have revised your essay, the last stage in this process is editing. Review your work and look for spelling and grammatical errors. Editing is a crucial step and ensures there are no glaring mistakes you may have missed before you submit your work.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
References