Mastering the Five Stages of Academic Composition

Defining Composition

Composition can be defined in several ways:

• A piece of writing undertaken as an academic exercise in grammatically acceptable writing; an essay.
• The parts of which something is composed or made up; its constitution.
• A work of music, art, or literature.

The Five Stages of the Writing Process

The writing process explains what we do and helps us understand why we do it that way. It consists of five distinct stages:

• Invention
• Organization
• Drafting
• Revision
• Editing

Stage 1: Invention

Invention often makes the difference between an adequate piece and a good or great one. The author needs to know what they are going to write about and have something to say. Key considerations include:

• Thesis
• Audience
• Purpose

Stage 2: Organization

Organization is about planning, not just outlining. Authors who know where they are going can write more effectively. Consider these questions:

• Where are the natural idea breaks?
• What does the audience expect to see?
• Are there specific format requirements?

Stage 3: Drafting

Drafting is the actual physical act of writing or typing. Once you know what you want to say and how you want to say it, writing becomes easier. Remember, this version does not have to be perfect—you will revise.

Stage 4: Revision

Revision focuses on the big picture. To "re-vision" means to rethink and rewrite. Ask yourself if your ideas and phrasing worked. This stage is concerned with audience, thesis, purpose, focus, and organization; it does not address anything below the paragraph level.

Stage 5: Editing

Editing addresses lower-level elements at the sentence level and below. This is the last thing to do—the detailing that makes the work shine. Most people have only a few weak editing areas, such as:

• Spelling and punctuation
• Verb usage and word choice
• Sentence construction

Types of Composition Writing

Hypothetical Writing Prompts

Hypothetical prompts ask you to imagine your reaction to specific scenarios:

• What would you do if you were late for an important appointment?
• What would you do if someone accused you of doing something bad you didn't do?
• What would you do if you got lost in an unfamiliar city?
• What would you do if you left something in a locked building?

Descriptive Writing Prompts

Descriptive writing focuses on detailing specific subjects:

• Describe a famous park or recreation area in your home country.
• Describe an interesting neighbor you have had.
• Describe something you could never give away.
• Describe a place you will never forget.