What are the components of the ‘pre-writing stage’ of the process approach to writing?, The pre-writing stage is the initial phase of the process approach to writing. It is a crucial period, providing an opportunity to explore thoughts and gather ideas before the actual writing commences. The components of the pre-writing stage include understanding the writing task, brainstorming, research, and organizing ideas.
Understanding the Writing Task: The first step involves thoroughly understanding the writing assignment or task. It is vital for a writer to know the purpose of the writing, the intended audience, and the type of document or piece they are expected to create. Whether it’s an essay, a report, or a narrative, understanding the requirements of the task lays the foundation for an effective writing process.
For instance, let’s assume that a Bachelor of Arts student has been tasked to write a comparative essay about the presentation of love in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights.” In this case, the student must understand that the task requires a comparative analysis focusing on the theme of love in two different literary works.
Brainstorming: Once the task is understood, the next step is brainstorming. Brainstorming is the practice of gathering as many ideas or thoughts related to the topic as possible. This step doesn’t require any organization or structure; the goal is to generate a pool of ideas that can be refined and arranged later. Various techniques can be employed in this step such as mind-mapping, free-writing, listing, or clustering.
For example, our BA student can jot down the different ways love is presented in both texts, noting key scenes, quotes, and character actions. They may also note similarities and differences they can remember offhand.
Research: After brainstorming, the next step is to conduct research, if necessary. Research enriches your understanding of the topic, provides new perspectives, and gives concrete data and evidence to support your arguments. It can be conducted through various methods, including reading related texts, consulting scholarly articles, conducting interviews, or utilizing online resources.
In the aforementioned example, the student may need to read critical interpretations of both texts, delve deeper into both authors’ biographies, or study the historical context of the texts to provide a richer comparative analysis.
Organizing Ideas: After research comes the organization of ideas. This stage involves sifting through the gathered ideas and information, identifying the key points, and arranging them in a logical manner. This structure provides the backbone for the draft and assists in ensuring the clarity and coherence of the piece. What are the components of the ‘pre-writing stage’ of the process approach to writing? For example, the BA student can decide on the structure of their essay. They might choose to compare and contrast the theme of love in both books chapter by chapter, or character by character. They will decide on which points to discuss in the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.