Part 1： Prewriting
When you start writing an English essay, what do you usually do? Check the box(es) that best describe your habits.
How do you gather information / find ideas for your writing？
Talking to others
Browsing social media （e.g. WeChat Moments）
Going to the library
Observing people and things around me
Surfing the Internet
Others （please describe）
How do you discover your main idea / thesis？
Talking to others
Browsing social media （e.g. WeChat Moments）
Surfing the Internet
Reading books or articles
Writing to explore ideas （I discover as I write）
Others （please describe）
How do you plan your essay？
With a detailed formal outline
With a simple informal outline
With a diagram or mind map
With a list of key points
While writing （I plan as I go）
Others （please describe）
How many drafts do you usually write？
One draft （I submit it as soon as I finish writing）
Two drafts （first draft + revision）
Three drafts or more
Do you modify your central idea / thesis while you are writing？
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost never
While writing, do you make any of the following changes in your draft？
Adding new material
Deleting material
Changing / rewriting material
Rearranging the order of material
Do you pay attention to sentence patterns and word choice as you write？
Yes, I pay close attention and revise while writing
Somewhat, but I try not to let it interrupt my flow
Not much — I just get my ideas down first
Which of the following best describes your writing habit？
I think in Chinese first, then translate into English
I think directly in English
I use a mixture of both
I often consult dictionaries （especially Chinese-English）
I occasionally consult dictionaries
I rarely consult dictionaries
Do you make any major changes in your essay （e.g. rewriting paragraphs, reorganizing structure, adding new content）？
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Do you check the following specific parts of your essay？
Introduction （is it engaging？）
Conclusion （is it appropriate？）
Transitions （are they smooth and natural？）
Body paragraphs （are they clear and well-supported？）
Others （please describe）
What do you consider when you revise your essay？
Whether the essay responds to the writing task
Whether there is a clear main idea that controls the essay
Whether there are enough details to support the main idea
Whether the essay is organized in a logical way
Whether the essay is free of grammar errors
Whether the language is appropriate for the audience
When do you make changes in sentences and words？
As I was writing the first draft
After I finished the first draft
Both during and after writing the first draft
How many times do you check your essay for spelling and grammar mistakes before submitting it？
0 times （I dont check）
Once
Twice
Three times or more
Do you share your writing with classmates or other people and consider their suggestions in revision？
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never