The Process of Writing A Writer Should Know
Tsai, Ming-Jin
The process of writing was proposed by some experts. For example, Rohman (1965) thought it consists of three major stages : prewriting, writing and rewriting. Anderson's opinion (1985) was idea generation, actual composition, and rewriting. Larsen’s(1987) are pre-writing, writing and post-writing. Hayes & Flower(1986)concluded some researches and proposed another three orders on writing process : planning , translatingand reviewing.
On the process of planning, an author takes information from the task environment and from his long-term memory and use it to set goals and establish a writing plan to guide the production of a text that will meet those goals. An author should consider four factors before he begins the first draft: subject, audience, purpose and form.When a writer begins to write a paper, he should initially consider the topic about which he plans to write. It focuses on the information which his readers want to know and what they already know about the topic. An author also has to consider the amount of background knowledge and characteristics of his audience so that he can bring them to read. An author also ought to know why he is writing this article. He may ask himself whether he is writing to describe or explain something. At the same time, he also needs to determine and select a correct form for presenting the information.
The translating process acts under the guidance of the writing plan to produce language corresponding to information in the writer's memory. An author can explore a topic fully in such activities as brainstorming and list making. He can produce words, phrases, ideas, as rapidly as possible without concerning the appropriateness, order, or accuracy of them temporarily. As producing free association, he makes connections and generates ideas.
The function of reviewing process, which consists of reading and editing sub-processes, is to improve the quality of the draftjust produced from the translating process. The author conducts this stage by detecting and correcting weaknesses on the draft with respect to language conventions and accuracy of meaning.At the same time, he evaluates the extent of article to see if the text has accomplished writing goals. On the sub-process of editing, the author detects the faults of text such as grammatical errors, incorrect words, and missing context. To proofread carefully, authors may exchange their compositions each other and the partner checks other’s composition for clarity of ideas, and then forgrammar, spelling, punctuation in turn.
These procedures do not, of course, occur in a linear fashionstepby step. Even as we write a draft, we might still change our plan, rewrite sections, or alter our intended audience. It is possible to occur.
References：
Anderson, J.R.(1985).Cognitive psychology and its implication.(2nd ed.); N.Y.: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Hayes, J.R. and Flower, L.S.(1986). Writing research and thewriter. American Psychologist, 41, 1106-1113.
Larsen, S.C.(1987). Assessing the writing abilities andinstructional needs of students. Austin, Texas:IndustrialOaks Boulevard.
Rohamn, G..(1965). Pre-writing: The stage of discovery in thewriting process. College Composition Communication, 16,106-112.