ParaPro Writing Study Guide: Pre−Writing

This section of our ParaPro Study Guide covers the use of pre-writing to generate and organize ideas. A good writer – and a successful test-taker of the ParaPro Exam – knows the correct steps that they must take to create a cohesive piece of writing.

Steps in the Writing Process

As a paraprofessional, you should have a strong understanding of the writing process. The following steps are the proper way to write an essay.

  1. Brainstorm: Thoughtfully consider and write down your ideas.
  2. Research: Use the appropriate materials to gather information about your topic.
  3. Organize an outline: Lay out the structure of your paper, including each section’s topic and the supporting details or evidence.
  4. Write a draft: Use your outline to write your essay.
  5. Revise: Read through your first draft to find mistakes and look for ways you can improve your work.
  6. Write the final draft: Write your essay in its final form.
  7. Proofread: Ensure that no mistakes made their way into your final draft before submitting.

The test will evaluate your knowledge of the work to be completed within these steps. For example, the following question concerns outlining an essay.

Example 1

Jennifer has brainstormed her essay topic and completed her research. She is going to write about how technology has had a positive effect on society. However, she has not finished her outline. Use her incomplete outline below to answer the question:

The Positive Effects of Technology

  1. Good in case of emergency
    1. Car problems
      1. Able to call someone if you are stuck
      2. On-Star technology able to locate you
    2. Can immediately contact love ones if you need them
  2. Access to information
    1. Research
      1. Get answers quickly
      2. Get more accurate and reliable results
    2. Education
      1. Able to access internet to self-teach
      2. Easier for teachers to find and use resources
  3. _______________
    1. Prolongs lives
      1. Medicine that helps you live longer
      2. Larger variety of remedies for life-threatening diseases
    2. Cancer research
      1. Technology has given us more options to beat cancer
      2. People able to send money easier to raise money for awareness
      3. More accurate results on findings

What should Jennifer make the topic of Section III?

A. Internet research

B. Medical breakthroughs

C. Social media

D. Record-keeping

The correct answer is (B). Words and phrases like “cancer research” and “medicine” indicate that this section covers the medical field.

You may also be asked questions about how to improve an outline or writing a thesis statement based on an outline. Knowing what a thesis statement is and what purpose it serves is essential.

  • A thesis should be found at the end of the first paragraph.
  • A thesis accurately previews the main points and purpose of writing in one sentence.
  • A thesis does not go into the details of each body paragraph; it just focuses on the broader picture.
  • Unlike the hook, a thesis doesn’t involve questions or quotes.

The following would be a successful thesis statement for the essay outlined in Example 1:

Technology has had a positive influence on society by aiding us in case of an emergency, improving our ability to learn, and helping us with medical breakthroughs.

All three main points are reflected in one statement. This informs the reader that each paragraph will cover one of these points, with supporting details helping aid the argument.

Conducting Appropriate Research

When constructing an argument in an essay, you must use the appropriate reference materials when conducting your research. The following are guidelines for choosing the correct research materials:

  • Avoid Wikipedia as a main source.
  • Try to use .edu and .gov sources. These are more likely to have verified information than .com or .org sites.
  • Primary source materials are more dependable than secondary sources. Primary sources come from the main topic or person itself, whereas secondary sources are written by an outside source about someone or something.
    • The following are good primary sources to use:
      • Autobiography: Unlike a biography where an author writes about a person they are well-informed of, an autobiography is when a person writes about their own life or experiences (e.g. My Presidency in My Own Eyes by Jimmy Carter).
      • Diary: Similar to autobiographies, a published diary includes journals or writings kept by a person. The Diary of Anne Frank, for example, details Anne Frank’s experience during the Holocaust.
      • Interviews, journals, photographs, memos, letters, and speeches are also helpful primary sources.
    • The following are good reference materials that count as secondary sources:
      • Encyclopedia: This resource is useful for finding general information and facts about specific topics, such as animals, countries, states, people, and things.
      • Atlas: An atlas is helpful for seeing where states and countries are on a map, including their bordering countries and continents they rest in.
      • Biography: As mentioned in the autobiography bullet, biographies are useful for getting information on a specific person’s life (e.g. The Life and Presidency of Ronald Reagan), but they are not written by the person themselves.
      • Dictionary: This resource is for looking up definitions of words.
      • Textbooks, commentaries, and book reports are also helpful secondary sources.

Example 2

Janine is looking to write a research paper on the Olympian Jesse Owens. She wants to get the most accurate information and hear his own thoughts and words. What would be the best source for Janine to use for her paper?

  1. encyclopedia
  2. commentary on Jesse Owens
  3. biography
  4. autobiography

The correct answer is (D). Autobiographies are written by the subject themselves; in this case, Jesse Owens would have authored the book and Janine would have the best insights into his own thoughts and feelings. All the other options would provide information about Jesse Owens from outside writers.

Example 3

Lisa is writing a persuasive paper about school uniforms and why they should be used in schools. She uses the following sources for her research: wikipedia.com, www.schooluniforms.com, and schoolinformation.net. As a paraprofessional, what feedback should you give Lisa?

  1. Those are excellent sources. Your paper will have great and accurate information in it.
  2. Three sources are not enough. Try and use a source like greatschools.org. Four is a better amount.
  3. While these sources may provide some good information, you should use more reliable sources like .edu and .gov sites for your paper.
  4. When writing a persuasive paper, you don’t need reference materials. It’s all based on your opinion.

The correct answer is (C). Any time you are writing a persuasive or argumentative essay, you want to use reliable references to form your argument. Sites that end in .edu and .gov are trustworthy sites and more likely to provide verified and accurate information.

Apply your knowledge about pre-writing strategies and classroom skills in the brief review test below. Each answer is accompanied by a detailed explanation to help you learn as you practice.

Pre-Writing Review Test

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