Process Approach to Writing
The process-based writing method involves various steps or stages writers go through when they are writing. For instance, it consists steps such as brainstorming, organizing, drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing. This is a practical approach since it can help with the development of personal skills and the improvement of the writing process, thus leading to the ability to communicate more effectively.
The main steps of the Process Approach to Writing are pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. When pre-writing, writers think of possible ideas and make a plan; drafting means forming these ideas into coherent sentences and paragraphs; revising has to do with enhancing the quality of the content and the structure; editing includes the repairing of grammar and style mistakes; and publishing is the last part when the write-up is delivered to the readers.
Unlike the traditional methods that view writing as a linear process, the Process Approach is about writing as a recursive process. The traditional methods have a tendency to focus on the necessity of producing a perfect final draft in the initial attempt whereas the Process Approach is in favor of a writer writing, say, 3 drafts and returning to it after a while, possibly to include comments from a peer, before finally making a decision about the changes.
The role of feedback is undoubtedly significant in the Process Approach, as it offers the writers a clear picture about the visibility, coherence, and effectiveness of their drafts. The revising stage, which involve the integration of feedback, is the way to help the writers find their weaknesses as well as to involve others in the process, thus, enhance the quality of the final product. A case in point is that, peer reviews can be used to point out both strength and weaknesses which the writer might not be aware of.
You're right! The Process Approach to Writing has been the standard model for writing in schools as it provides a framework for writing skills development. By steps, the students can get guidance from their teachers and thus they are given the chance to practice brainstorming, peer editing, and self-assessment. To illustrate, one of the possible class plan is to conduct the workshops, during which the students will write essays, give each other feedback and after that improve their work before handing in the final copies, all these activities in the process, create an atmosphere which is friendly and helpful.