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✍️ Writing & Research Grades 3–12

The Writing Process

Good writing is rewritten. Move through five stages, and don't try to make the first draft perfect.

Learn How it works

  1. Prewrite (plan). Brainstorm, freewrite for 5 minutes, or make a web or list. Choose your thesis and gather evidence. Use an outline.
  2. Draft. Write fast. Get ideas down in order. Leave a mark like [FIX] when you're stuck and keep going.
  3. Revise (big changes). Does every paragraph support the thesis? Is anything missing or in the wrong order? Is the evidence explained? Read it out loud.
  4. Edit and proofread (small changes). Spelling, punctuation, capitals, and citations. Check the grammar reference.
  5. Publish. Format it (title, name, date, page numbers, Works Cited), then turn it in or share it.

Revising ≠ editing. Revising changes the ideas and structure (ARMS: Add, Remove, Move, Substitute). Editing fixes the mechanics (CUPS: Capitals, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling).

Try it Revision checklist

Check each item as you go. Your checks save on this device.

Practice Check yourself

Answer, then tap Check. You get an explanation either way.

  1. Moving a paragraph so the strongest reason comes last is…

  2. Fixing “their” to “there” is…

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