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ENC 1101 - Bielecki: Steps in the Writing Process

Resources discussed and demonstrated during Ms. Bielecki's ENC 1101 courses' library orientation, as well as composition and grammar resources

The Steps in the Writing Process: Brainstorming/Prewriting, Organizing/Outlining, Drafting, Revising, and Proofreading

Created specifically for Ms. Bielecki's ENC courses, this page provides a brief introduction to the steps in the writing process. (For help with other aspects of composition, click the tabs above.) Scroll down to find supplemental resources for the composition process, including links to online writing labs (OWLs) and embedded videos, as well as information on how to get HCC's free tutoring in person or online.

This page is designed to be a helpful supplement to the course instruction and Canvas materials, not a replacement for them. For specific details on assignments, see our Canvas course.

The Steps in the Writing Process

  1. Brainstorming/Prewriting/Planning (generating ideas by freewriting, webbing/mapping, or listing, often with research)
  2. Organizing/Outlining (making a plan for the essay)
  3. Drafting (composing sentences and paragraphs)
  4. Revising (assessing higher-order concerns like content coverage, relevance, unity, and organization)
  5. Proofreading (what the textbook calls "editing" for lower-order concerns including grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and formatting)

The Writing Process: OWL Overviews

The Writing Process (Overview): Videos

Videos on each step are at the bottom of this LibGuide page.

Embedded media not working? Email the video and page URLs to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

Videos on each step are at the bottom of this LibGuide page.

Embedded media not working? Email the video and page URLs to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

Videos on each step are at the bottom of this LibGuide page.

Embedded media not working? Email the video and page URLs to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

Help from HCC's Tutors

Questions? 813-253-7741 or yborsuccess@hccfl.edu

Video or link not working? Please email URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

Upswing is an online tutoring service to which all HCC students are subscribed. Call 844-879-8779 for tech support.

Video or link not working? Please email URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

The Steps in the Writing Process: Videos

This step is generating ideas, often through research. Some methods of doing this are listing, webbing/mapping, and freewriting. 

Embedded video not working? Email the page's URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

After you have generated ideas (step 1), this step works out how to put those ideas into an order that will make sense for readers.

Embedded video not working? Email the page's URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

In this step, the essay takes shape as the writer puts the organized ideas (from steps 1 and 2) into complete sentences and paragraphs.

Embedded video not working? Email the page's URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

In this step, writers consider higher-order concerns (content coverage, relevance, unity, and organization) of what they drafted (in step 3). This often involves feedback from tutors, classmates, and instructors.

Embedded video not working? Email the page's URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.

In this step (called "editing" in our textbook), writers consider lower-order concerns such as grammar, mechanics (capitalization, punctua­tion, and spelling), and formatting to finalize the essay. As in step 4, this often involves feedback from tutors, classmates, and instructors.

Embedded video not working? Email the page's URL to jbielecki@hccfl.edu.