CM107 Writing Situations and Purposes:
Success in CM107 Writing Situations and Purposes depends on understanding the five stages of the writing process and knowing the purpose of each stage. In most assignments, quizzes, and exams, the correct answer is determined by recognizing whether an activity belongs to pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, or submitting. Learning how these stages work together helps students produce stronger academic writing, improve organization, and avoid common writing mistakes.
Whether you are preparing a college assignment, completing an online assessment, or improving your writing skills, understanding each stage of the writing process will help you create clear, well-organized, and polished documents.
What Is the Writing Process?
The writing process is a structured approach that guides writers from the initial planning phase to the final submission of a completed document. Rather than writing everything at once, effective writers move through several stages, improving their work along the way.
The five stages of the writing process include:
Pre-writing
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Submitting
Each stage has a different purpose and contributes to producing effective academic and professional writing.
Understanding the Five Stages of the Writing Process
Pre-Writing: Planning Before You Begin
Pre-writing is the preparation stage where writers organize their thoughts before creating the first draft. Spending time planning often leads to stronger, more focused writing.
Common pre-writing activities include:
Reviewing assignment instructions
Identifying the purpose of the assignment
Brainstorming ideas
Creating outlines or mind maps
Conducting preliminary research
Identifying the intended audience
CM107 Example: Dylan Is Pre-Writing
Correct answers include:
Identify assignment guidelines.
Identify the purpose of the paragraph.
Which Activity Is Not Part of Pre-Writing?
Maria corrected the spelling of each dormitory and classroom building.
Correcting spelling is an editing task, not a pre-writing activity.
Drafting: Turning Ideas into Written Content
Drafting is the stage where writers transform their ideas into complete sentences and paragraphs. The goal is to communicate ideas without worrying too much about grammar or minor writing errors.
During drafting, writers typically:
Develop body paragraphs
Expand outlines
Write introductions and conclusions
Add examples and supporting evidence
Organize ideas logically
Common Drafting Tasks
Examples include:
Writing ideas in sentence form
Developing paragraphs
Including supporting evidence
Expanding an outline into a complete paper
CM107 Example: Isaac Is Drafting
Correct answers:
Start writing out his ideas.
Focus on the ideas he wants to cover.
Examples of Drafting
The following activities represent drafting because they involve creating new content:
Holly composed her second paragraph using statistics and a personal anecdote.
Marley developed another paragraph using information from a research source.
Debbie developed another body paragraph with historical facts and examples.
Revising: Improving Content and Organization
Revising focuses on strengthening the quality of writing by improving ideas, organization, and clarity. Unlike editing, revising is not concerned with grammar or spelling. Instead, writers evaluate whether the content effectively communicates its message.
During revision, writers may:
Add supporting details
Remove unnecessary information
Rearrange paragraphs
Improve transitions
Clarify explanations
Strengthen arguments
CM107 Examples of Revising
Leo Is Revising
Correct answers:
Add content.
Remove content.
Kevin Is Revising
Correct answers:
Add supporting details to improve a paragraph.
Remove content from a draft.
Bernadette Is Revising
Correct answers:
Add content to a document.
Remove content from a draft.
Wylie Is Revising
Correct answers:
Rearrange sentences.
Add missing content.
Editing: Correcting Grammar and Language Errors
Editing occurs after revising. At this stage, writers focus on correcting language and mechanical errors to ensure their work is accurate and professional.
Editing commonly includes:
Correcting grammar
Fixing spelling mistakes
Checking punctuation
Correcting capitalization
Verifying subject-verb agreement
Ensuring sentence completeness
CM107 Editing Examples
Holly
Carefully read each sentence, looking for missing words and punctuation.
Kelly
Read carefully to ensure complete sentences and correct spelling.
Julia
Checked to make sure her verbs and subjects agreed.
Barrett
Checked every sentence for punctuation and verified spelling.
Nic
Checked every sentence for punctuation and verified the spelling of each dive location.
Submitting: Preparing the Final Document
Submitting is the final stage of the writing process. Once drafting, revising, and editing are complete, writers prepare their work for its intended audience, instructor, or publication platform.
Typical submission tasks include:
Formatting the document according to assignment requirements
Applying APA style when required
Including images, charts, or figures
Formatting paragraphs for online publication
Verifying submission guidelines
Uploading or publishing the completed work
Correct Answers for the Submitting Stage
The following tasks belong to the submitting stage:
Format the text in APA style when required.
Include images if necessary.
Format paragraphs for online publishing.
What Is a Support Sentence?
A support sentence expands on the topic sentence by providing explanations, examples, facts, evidence, or additional details. Strong support sentences help readers understand the writer’s main idea and strengthen the overall paragraph.
CM107 Correct Answer
The correct sentence type for the following scenarios is Support Sentence:
Victoria
Elizabeth
Brooklyn
Writing Process Summary
| Writing Stage | Primary Purpose | Typical Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Writing | Plan the writing | Brainstorming, outlining, identifying purpose, reviewing assignment |
| Drafting | Develop ideas | Writing paragraphs, adding evidence, expanding outlines |
| Revising | Improve content | Adding, removing, reorganizing, strengthening ideas |
| Editing | Correct errors | Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure |
| Submitting | Finalize the document | Formatting, APA style, adding visuals, preparing for submission |
Why Understanding the Writing Process Matters
Mastering each stage of the writing process helps students write more effectively and perform better in coursework, standardized assessments, and professional writing tasks. Following the stages in order also reduces writing errors and improves overall clarity.
Some of the major benefits include:
Producing better-organized assignments
Improving clarity and logical flow
Reducing grammar and spelling mistakes
Meeting academic formatting requirements
Strengthening arguments with supporting evidence
Creating polished final documents
Key Takeaways
The writing process becomes much easier when you understand the purpose of each stage.
Remember these essential points:
Pre-writing focuses on planning and organizing ideas.
Drafting develops ideas into complete paragraphs.
Revising strengthens content, organization, and clarity.
Editing corrects grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics.
Submitting prepares the document for its final audience through formatting and final review.
Following each stage in sequence results in clearer, stronger, and more effective writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five stages of the writing process?
The five stages are pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and submitting. Each stage serves a unique purpose, from planning ideas to preparing the final document.
What is the purpose of the revising stage?
Revising improves the quality of writing by adding, removing, reorganizing, and strengthening ideas. It focuses on content and organization rather than grammar.
What happens during the editing stage?
Editing corrects grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, sentence structure, and subject-verb agreement before the document is finalized.
What is the drafting stage?
Drafting is the process of developing ideas into complete paragraphs and creating the first version of a paper using examples, explanations, and supporting evidence.
What tasks belong to the submitting stage?
Submitting includes formatting the document, applying APA style when required, adding images or visuals, reviewing submission guidelines, and preparing the work for publication or assessment.
What is a support sentence?
A support sentence explains, develops, or provides evidence for the topic sentence, helping readers understand the paragraph’s main idea.
What is the difference between revising and editing?
Revising focuses on improving ideas, organization, and clarity, while editing corrects grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and other language errors.
Facts
The writing process consists of five stages: pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and submitting.
Pre-writing emphasizes planning, brainstorming, and organizing ideas.
Drafting transforms ideas into complete paragraphs and supporting content.
Revising improves clarity, organization, and the strength of ideas.
Editing corrects grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence mechanics.
Submitting prepares a completed document through formatting, APA style (when required), and final review.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://apastyle.apa.org
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). The writing process. Purdue University. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/index.html
The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (n.d.). The writing process. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/the-writing-process/
