The Writing Process

On your academic course you will need to engage in different types of writing, from extended
essays and reports which may take two months to write, to short essays written under exam
conditions. A mistake many students make is to start writing before they are ready, and to think they
have finished once their first draft is done. In reality, there are many steps involved in producing a
quality piece of writing, which begin when you first see the title, and end when you submit the
work. These steps are called The Writing Process.

The exact process will vary according to the kind of writing you are working on. There
are two main types, summarised below.

Extended (researched) assignments

Understand the title
Brainstorm ideas
Research
Write an outline
Write first draft
Check your work
Redraft
Proofread
Submit finished work

Short (exam) essays

Understand the title
Brainstorm ideas
Write an outline
Write the essay
Check your work
Submit finished work
Exercise

Ordering the stages

Put the stages of the writing process in the correct order.

 Understand the title
Redraft
Proofread
Research
Submit final draft
Outline
Check your work
Write first draft
Brainstorm ideas

Understanding the title

The first stage of the writing process is to understand the title. This is a key stage.
Get this wrong, and your whole essay may be worthless, meaning hours of wasted
time. A common complaint by course tutors is that their students do not answer the
question. By taking the time to understand the title, you can be more confident that
the content of your essay or report will be relevant, which will earn you a higher
grade. It will also ensure that your background reading, if it is a researched
assignment with references, will be more focused. The most important aspects of
understanding the question are identifying the key words and the command
words in the title. Both of these are considered below.

Key words
The first thing to do when looking at the title is to underline the key words.
Some of these may need defining in your answer. Pay special attention
to command words (see below), which give you a clear indication of how
to answer the question. Read through the question several times to make
sure you understand exactly what it is asking. If it is a researched
assignment, rather than an exam essay, you may also want to discuss
the question with your tutor to make sure you completely understand it.
The first stage of the writing process is to understand the title. This is a key stage.
Get this wrong, and your whole essay may be worthless, meaning hours of wasted
time. A common complaint by course tutors is that their students do not answer the
question. By taking the time to understand the title, you can be more confident that
the content of your essay or report will be relevant, which will earn you a higher
grade. It will also ensure that your background reading, if it is a researched
assignment with references, will be more focused. The most important aspects of
understanding the question are identifying the key words and the command
words in the title. Both of these are considered below.

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Command words
Command words, also called directive words or instruction words, are
words (usually verbs) in the title which tell you exactly what you need to
write in your answer. Below are some of the most common command
words and their meaning.

Command
Meaning
word

Gives reasons for the subject of the question. Note: this is different
Account for
from give an account of, which looks at 'what' rather than 'why'.

Break an idea or issue into parts, looking at each one in depth and
Analyse considering how they relate to one another. This type of answer
needs to be very logically organised.

Weigh up how important something is, using evidence or reasoning.

Assess
Conclude by saying how far you agree with the original question.

Make something clearer, e.g. explaining a complex process or theory

Clarify
in simpler terms.

Comment
State the main points and give your opinion.
upon

Compare Identify the similarities and differences. The answer should be

balanced, and may comment on which similarities or differences are
more important. Note: technically, 'compare' means to show how
things are similar, but in essay titles you are expected to look at
 both similarities and differences; some titles may make this more
explicit by asking you to 'Compare and contrast...'.

Say what you think about the subject, using evidence from your own
Consider
experience or from external sources.

Contrast Similar to compare, but considers only the differences.

Identify weaknesses or disadvantages, as well as favourable aspects.

Criticise
The answer should be balanced.

Give a definition, i.e. the precise meaning. This answer may include
Define problems with the definition and alternative definitions which may
exist.

Demonstrat
Show how, using examples to illustrate your answer.
e

Say what something is like, how or why something works or

Describe
happens, etc.

Argue for and against, or point out the advantages and

Discuss disadvantages, using evidence. You must argue both sides, and
come to a conclusion.

Look at the 'con' points (those against) to show why something is not
Disprove
true. Requires a logical answer with evidence.

Elaborate To give more detail/information on the subject.

Elucidate Make the subject clear (i.e. lucid) by explaining what it means.

Same as assess. Some questions use 'Critically evaluate', which

Evaluate
means the same thing.
 Look at the topic closely by establishing the important facts and
Examine issues. You should give reasons to say why you think those facts and
issues are the most important ones.

Give a detailed explanation of how and why something occurs, or

Explain what is meant by a particular idea or principle. Will often require
definition of key terms.

Consider a topic from different viewpoints. The topic should be

Explore explored thoroughly, and opposing views could be reconciled in the
final argument.

Give an Give a detailed description of something, i.e. explain 'what' it is.

account of Note: this is different from account for, which looks at 'why'.

Identify Show what the key points are, and what they imply.

Illustrate Use examples or statistics to explain the subject of the question.

Say what you think something means, in order to demonstrate your

understanding. You may be asked to interpret terminology used by a
Interpret
writer or the findings from research. If you are interpreting findings,
you should comment on patterns or causal relationships.

Give reasons for a position (e.g. 'Justify the use of corporal

Justify punishment in schools'). Try to include counter-arguments to make
your reasons more balanced.

Outline Same as summarise

Look at the 'pro' points (those in favour) to show why something is

Prove
true. Requires a logical answer with evidence.

Look thoroughly at a subject. An answer to this question will be

Review
critical and not just description.
 Give the stages or factors which give rise to something. The answer
Show how
should be presented in a logical order.

Give the relevant points. These points should be clear and brief;
State
avoid long discussion.

Sum up the main points, usually with brief or general examples. Do

Summarise
not give details. Often requires a short answer.

Similar to 'Discuss', in that both sides of the argument will be

presented, with evidence. This type of essay, however, may be less
To what balanced, depending on what extent (or 'how far') you think the
extent proposition is true. It is commonly used as an IELTS Task 2 essay
question, usually in the phrase 'To what extent do you agree or
disagree?'

Describe the stages (e.g. in the development of a theory, of a

Trace person's life, of a process) in a logical or chronological order. Usually
found in historical questions.