CRITICAL THINKING,

COLLABORATION, AND
THE WIRITNG
PROCESS
ROGER MALDIA
Writing Process
A cycle of activities that you
complete as you generate ideas,
compose those ideas into a
document or presentation, and
refine those ideas.
Stages of Writing Process
Pre-writing
Writing
Rewriting
 Pre-Writing Stage
A. Choosing a Topic and Limiting It
B. Asking Research Questions and Establishing the
Significance of One’s Research
C. Composing a Thesis Statement
D. Preparing a Writing Outline
E. Doing Research and Finding Credible Sources
A. Choosing Topic and limiting it.

•The pre-writing stage is defined as

“everything that takes place before
the first draft” (Murray, 1972).
Practical question to ask:
1. What are the objectives (of the
course or the professor) that need
to be met by this paper?
Practical question to ask:

2. What are my
objectives in writing
this paper
Practical question to ask:
3. What are the length
requirements of this paper
(minimum and maximum number
of words or pages?)
Practical question to ask:
4. How much time
do I need to write
it?
Practical question to ask:
5. What are the other
restrictions or limits imposed
by the professor or the course?
Practical question to ask:
6. What has already been
written about this topic and
what new ideas can I add to
the conversation about it?
B. Asking Research
Questions and
Establishing the
Significance of One’s
Research
Practical question to ask:
1. What does the “____________” mean?
2. Who exactly practices this?
3. When did this practice begin?
4. Where is this practiced? In what context/s?
What makes my research socially or
culturally significant?
Brainstorming Research Question:
1. What cultural and social values, as well as realities,
led to the _______________________________?
2. What impact does it _______________?
3. What larger implications does this have
__________________________________,
especially today?
Example:
State your topic: __________
Add reason for studying: __________
Add significance to this study: __________
C. Composing a Thesis Statement
paper’s central idea
point or argument
the main assertion
will be supported by the entire
essay.
Research Question:
Thesis Statement:
D. Preparing a Writing Outline
Three main sections of outline process:
The introduction
The development-more detailed and
specific.
The conclusion
The introduction- typically consist of
interesting opening to draw reader into
the subject, background information on
the topic, and statement of the paper’s
thesis.
The subheading consist of three
or more subtopics that act as
supporting points for the
essay’s central idea.
contains wrap-up or summary of
the essay’s main points and a final
point: a prediction or
recommendation, a reiteration of
he main idea, and or final insight.
E. Doing Research and Finding
Credible Sources
1. Check the universal resources locator or URL
2. Read the “about us” section of the website.
3. Review the content for relevane, depth and
breadth, accuracy and currency.
4. Look at the sources cited.
5. Look to Google scholar.
The Writing Stage
The second stage of writing process. This is writing or
“The act or producing a first draft” which Donald
Murray (1973) says is the “fastest” part of the writing
process, taking up as little as 1% of writers time. That’s
because if the essay is well planned, drafting will not be
difficult. Moreover, the product of drafting is only an
initial draft.
The Rewriting Stage
The third involves “researching,
rethinking, redesigning, rewriting
and finally line by line editing, and
the demanding, satisfying process of
making every word right” (Murray
1972).