Writing Help - Help My Child with the Writing Process

TutorGiant.com

Your child comes home with a writing assignment and you’re not sure where to start.  Sometimes students are given graphic organizers in order to help them write an essay or a report, and other times kids are left on their own to try to create a piece.

Regardless of the type of writing assignment, your child should approach his/her work in an organized fashion.  Some students are able to whip up a report or procedure with their eyes closed but for the rest of the class, well, they need guidance.

The ‘Writing Process’ is a systematic way that increases a student’s chances on becoming a good writer.  This process incorporates every aspect of planning, writing, organizing, and editing a piece of writing.  It’s very much like the sculptor who starts off with a mental picture, uses his chisel to shape his work, and finally does the last bit of fine detail.

You can help your child become a better writer by using the ‘Writing Process’.

1.  Prewriting – Decide on a topic and organize ideas. Figure out the purpose for the writing (i.e. who is the intended audience?) and choose the correct format.

2.  Drafting – Write a rough draft (or rough copy).  Create a good ‘hook’ to get the reader’s attention and focus on ideas rather than the mechanics of writing (that will be later on).

3.  Revising – Share the writing with friends or family members in order to get feedback and make changes.

4.  Editing – Like the sculptor who smoothes out the fine lines, your child must proofread his work very carefully.  He can use a checklist and/or have others proofread.

5.  Publishing - Publish the writing using the appropriate form (e.g. word processor, fonts, graphics, titles, etc…).

Have your child follow the ‘Writing Process’ every time he/she has a writing assignment.  By following each stage of the process, you will improve your child's writing skills.  It all comes down to, practice, organization, details, and effort.

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