5 Real writing
Real writing is about providing genuine communication between the participants and the audiences. The participants deliver some messages to the
audiences who are in need of those messages. There are some subcategories of real writing. They are as follows.
a Academic
Trainer can have The Language Experience Approach to give the participants opportunities to convey genuine information to each other,
content-based instruction to encourage the exchange of useful information, Group problem-solving activities to support the participants to complete their
writing with genuinely sought and conveyed information, and peer-editing work to give opportunity to exchange new information with each other and
with the trainer. b
Vocationaltechnical It is when real writing takes place in classes of participants studying English
for advancement in their occupation. c
Personal It is when the informal writing can take place in virtually ESL classes.
Informal writing includes diaries, letters, postcards, notes and personal messages.
d. Process of Writing
There are five steps of writing process proposed by Donald Graves 1983 in Johnson 2008: 179-180 which include prewriting, drafting, revising, editing,
and publishing and sharing. 1
Prewriting The goal of this step is to generate ideas. There are some ways to get a
clear idea such as listing, brainstorming, outlining, silent thinking, and discussion with other.
2 Drafting
It is where the writers put the first attempt on their paper. Writers should focus on the quantity than quality. The draft can be a disconnected accumulation
of ideas. Then, only the ideas on the drafts that the writer feels interesting should be taken to the next step.
3 Revising
It can be the main process of writing. Here, the drafts are revised and reshaped many times. Writer can shape, add parts, take parts away, add parts, and
continually mold and change the drafts. After rereading the paragraphs and considering the flow and structure, writer should determine the parts which are
taken for the next steps and which others are dropped out.
4 Editing
Editing is where grammar, spelling, and punctuations errors are corrected. Writer should also have the ability to check the grammar, spelling and
punctuation. 5
Publishing and sharing This is the final step when the written product is ready to published or
shared. It can be online or in print. It also includes the activity of rechecking the writing before it is finally published.
Another idea is proposed by Harmer 2004: 4-6 who tells that there are only four stages of writing process; they are planning, drafting, editing reflecting
and revising, and final version. The process of writing is not in linear stage. Writer can move from certain step to the other one before going to the final draft.
It is presented by the following picture.
