have to be arranged to form sentence.
4
From the definition above, it can be concluded that writing is the production of graphic symbols which have to be arranged
according to certain conventions to form meaningful words, sentences, etc. According to Lindemann writing is process of communication which uses a
conventional graphic system to convey a message to a reader.
5
It means that writing is a process of sending message by using letters, punctuation, word, or sentences as
graphic system. Moreover, writing is progressive activity. It means that when you first write
something down. You have already been thinking about what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Then after you have finished writing, you read over
what you have written and make changes and corrections. Therefore, writing is never a one-step action.
6
It means that when we write something, we must have already been thinking first because writing is never a one-step action.
Writing is also an action process of discovering and organizing the ideas, putting
them on paper, and reshaping them. Writing is much like speaking, because it is a
4
Donn Byrne, Teaching Writing Skill London: Longman Group UK, 1997, p.1
5
Erika Lindemann, A Rhetoric for Writing Teachers, Oxford University Press, 1983, p.11.
6
Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, Introduction to Academic Writing 3
rd
Ed White Plains: Longman,2007,p.15
way to discover and communicate the ideas. However, unlike speaking the people get the information from oral communication but in writing through a paper.
7
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that writing is the production of
graphic symbols which are arranged based on certain convention to form meaningful words, sentences through process of thinking to generate ideas or activities of
someone in order to inform the message on a paper.
C. Concept of Writing Ability
Raimes states that writing ability is a skill in which we express ideas, feelings, and thought which are arranged in words, sentences, and paragraph using eyes, brain and
hands.
8
Writing a sentence is a simple communication form, because student can write their idea, thought, and argument from a sentence. The process of writing is
usually more complex than the process of speaking.
According to Nunan, writing ability is defined as the ability to respond to a given stimulus according to some authority’s definition of the correct response.
9
The term of ability is defined as skill or power. Concisely, writing ability is the skill to express
7
Alan mayers, Gateway to Academic Writing, New York: Pearson Education, Inc, 2005, p.3
8
Raimes, A., Techniques in Teaching Writing, New York: Oxford University Press, 1987, p.76
9
Jyi-Yeon, Defining Writing Ability for Classroom Writing Aseesment in High Schools, available on:http:files.eric.ed.govfulltextEJ921024.pdf, May, 6
th
,2016
ideas, thoughts, and feelings to other people in written symbols to make other people or readers understand the ideas conveyed.
10
Moreover, Weigle states that writing is an indication that shows that students have
mastered the cognitive skills required for university work. In addition, he states that writing ability is the skill that we want to test and that the writer is likely to engage
in.
11
Thus, the writing ability is the ability that will be tested in which the writer is to engage in and needs to master elements of writing itself as respond to the given
stimulus. Based on explanation above, it can be concluded that writing ability is the ability to
express one’s ideas, thoughts, opinion and feelings into a piece of written work so that people as readers can understand.
D. Concept of the Writing Process
Writing cannot be produced instantly, it needs process. In the process, writing is seen as process to experience rather that merely a product to be read. This process, of
course, be affected by the content subject matter of writing, the types of writing ex: letters, essay, and so on and the medium it is written pen and paper, computer
words, file, etc. The writing process is at least as important as the product and even in exam writing task, the students’ ability quickly and later read back through what
10
Avalaible on: http:Teachingenglishonline.netdefinition-of-writing-ability,on May 6
th
,2016
11
Sara Cushing Weigle, Assesing Writing, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002, p.14
they have written in order to make any necessary corrections is extremely important.
12
There are some of terms often used to refer to stages in the process writing,
13
like the following:
Stages of Writing Process
Planning drafting editing final version. The following explanations and suggestions may be useful during particular stages of
the writing process.
14
a. Planning Experienced writers plan what they are going to write. Before starting to write or
type, they try and decide what it is they are going to say. For some writers this may involve making details notes. When planning, writers have to think about three main
issues. In the first place, they have to consider the purpose of their writing, the audience they are writing for, and the content structure of the piece.
15
In the other words, the planning stage also known as prewriting. It requires preliminary thinking
about the written assignment as good as some exploration and formal planning of ideas into a structure outline. Oshima says that prewriting is the step in the writing
12
Jeremy Harmer, The Practice of English Language Teaching, New York: Longman, 1988, p.327
13
Jeremy Harmer,Op.Cit.,p.5
14
Ibid.
15
Ibid
