Chapter 2 summary

Chapter 2 of Back To The Lake teaches in detail the steps needed to write a successful
paper. This chapter starts from the beginning of the writing process and ends with the final
draft, not leaving anything out in the middle. The topics are so clear and thorough that even a
beginning writer can be guided into creating a well written paper. This chapters topics and
main ideas are summarized below.

Planning A very important part in the writing process. You must begin here by considering
your topic, audience and your purpose for writing.
Managing Your Time - Learn how to effectively meet your deadlines.
Instructors will most likely count points off for late papers
Most college papers will require some research allow time for this
Know if your paper is a long-range project so you can begin early

Finding a Topic This may be assigned or chosen.
Remember a good topic will address a particular aspect of your general subject
Be prepared to answer questions to your teacher about your topic
Ask for guidance and utilize your schools writing center for possible topics

Thinking about Purpose and Audience Consider your audience and what is your
purpose for writing to them.
Is there an occasion for writing?
Find out as much as possible about your audience to cater to them specifically
Keep in mind the demographics of your audience
Can you assume your audience will know some specifics of your topic?

Generating Ideas This can be accomplished by using a number of different skills.
Freewriting Simply putting down whatever comes to mind, pen to paper method.
Do this for periods of ten minutes straight
Review and highlight key point to research further
This can lead to many other ideas

Looping A direct form of form of freewriting.
Can nudge you into writing more sentences
Write with a specific subject in mind
Can be useful when you are trying to make an abstract subject more concrete
Brings ideas into a sharper focus

Keeping Lists - Write down any known facts about your topic
Do not worry about the form of your lists
Relate long lists into related items
Can be written anywhere

Brainstorming A form of listing done in one sitting rather than over time.
Similar to listing, but can be more effective if done in groups
Make sure everyone contributes

Clustering Topics subject is written in the middle of the page and connections are
made by connecting circles.
Think of satellite ideas to the central topic
Group these ideas, facts and phrases into connecting clusters

Asking Who, What, Where, When, Why and How Standard journalistic type questions
can be useful for all kinds of writing.
Ask all of these questions about the subject and the action
Do this early in the writing process for more details
Check these same questions later to make sure your details are present

Keeping a Journal This is a great source of raw material for your writing.
Helps you explore reasons behind your thoughts
Write down observations soon after they occur
Record daily experiences
Be specific and detailed
Do not have to be formal

Organizing and Drafting Organize thoughts and material to begin the rough draft process.
Stating Your Point This will be your main idea behind your writing or your thesis.
Keep to one sentence
May need to revise
Makes an interesting claim
State this clearly and near the beginning

Making an Outline This will be an informal outline of your draft.
List main points
Include sub topics
Can show order of main ideas
Can indent, use letters and numbers

Using the Basic Methods of Development Choose one or more of the following
methods of development to write and share your story.
Narration: telling a story
Description: uses specific details that appeal to the senses
Example: use examples to support a general statement or make a point
Process analysis: breaking an activity in steps so the reader can replicate it
Comparison and contrast: tracing similarities and differences
Classification: helps explain a complex subject and suggest an outline
Definition: explain what something is, Identify main characteristics
Cause and effect: show that an event is a result of another event
Argument: make a claim and give evidence to support it

The Parts of an Essay These are the three basic parts; the introduction, the body, and
the conclusion.
Introduction: contains the thesis, choose from many ways to hook or grab the
readers attention
The Body Paragraphs: supports and develops your thesis using examples, facts,
testimony or personal experience
The Conclusion: ending of the essay where you can restate your thesis

Developing Paragraphs Clearly and directly tell the reader what your paragraph is
about and where it is going.
Writing Topic Sentences: makes a clear statement about that topic, should be
supported by every other sentence in the paragraph
Linking Ideas Together: logically link each paragraph to the next with the use of
transitional words or phrases

Using Visuals Illustrations such as graphs and charts can be effective in presenting or
comparing data.
Revising- Now is the time to look again at your draft and make changes in content,
organization, or emphasis.
Reading a Draft with a Critical Eye- Re-read yourself and then someone else to look
over your paper, keeping in mind the intended audience and purpose.
Make sure the title is effective.
Check for a clearly stated thesis; broaden or narrow if necessary.
Is there enough sufficient information for the audience?
Is there adequate support for the thesis?
Is the draft well organized with a clear beginning, middle and end?
What is the methods of development used and is it effective?
Are the sources quoted, paraphrased and summarized?
Does the structure of the paragraphs vary, and all begin with a topic sentence?
Check and vary the length of your sentences.
Is there any material that would be easier to understand with a visual?

Getting Response before Revising Ask for feedback from someone else.

Revising a Second Draft Set your work aside before coming back to reread and revise.
Editing and Proofreading Add finishing touches and correct error in grammar, sentence
structure, punctuation and word choice.
Tips for editing sentences
Complete thoughts
Capitalization and end punctuation
Check for parallelism

Tips for editing Words
Words that sound the same but have different meanings (check correct spelling)

Tips for Editing Punctuation
Commas after introductory elements
Commas before conjunctions
Commas in a series
Quotation marks (opening and closing)
Commas and periods inside quotation marks
Check apostrophes with possessive forms

Proofreading and final formatting The only stage in the writing process where you are
not primarily concerned with meaning. Although, correct errors you discover along the
way. Check overall format for specific instructions and when in doubt, follow MLA
guidelines.

Tips for formatting an Essay
Check heading and title.
Check Typeface and size.
Double space your document.
Set margins one-inch at top, bottom and sides.
Indent the first line of each paragraph.
Number your pages consecutively, and include your last name with each page number.