Before writing a recommendation report to the CEO, Dee and Carlos distribute a survey to everyone in their company to determine which new benefits employees are most interested in. What part of the writing process does this activity represent?

(a) Planning

(b) Gathering

(c) Proofreading

(d) Editing

I know it is not (c) or (d). I think its (b) gathering, but not sure. Gathering and planning are very similar and gathering is actually a form of planning.

Confused....

Would you gather before you plan? That should tell you what comes first.

Sra

You are correct that gathering and planning can be closely related, and it can be confusing to determine which phase this activity falls under. Let me explain the different phases of the writing process to help clarify.

The writing process typically involves several stages: planning, gathering, organizing, drafting, revising, proofreading, and editing. Each phase has its own purpose and activities.

1. Planning: This stage involves determining the purpose and scope of the writing, identifying the target audience, and outlining the main ideas or structure of the document. Planning helps you establish goals, gather necessary information, and develop a clear direction for your writing.

2. Gathering: This phase involves collecting the required information, data, or evidence to support your writing. It may include conducting research, interviews, surveys, or gathering data through observation. The purpose is to obtain sufficient and reliable information to develop informed and persuasive content.

3. Organizing: Once you have gathered the necessary information, you need to organize it in a logical and coherent manner. This phase involves deciding on the structure, creating an outline, and determining the order of the ideas or sections in your writing.

4. Drafting: This is the stage where you start transforming your outline and ideas into cohesive sentences and paragraphs. You begin writing the first draft of your report, essay, or document using the gathered information and organizational plan.

5. Revising: At this point, you review and refine your draft, focusing on improving clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of your writing. You may rearrange sections, add or remove content, rephrase sentences, and ensure that your writing achieves your intended purpose.

6. Proofreading: In this phase, you carefully review your revised draft for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other technical errors. Proofreading helps ensure that your writing is error-free and follows the conventions of standard written English.

7. Editing: The final stage involves making comprehensive improvements to the overall quality of your writing. You consider aspects such as style, tone, clarity, conciseness, and overall effectiveness. You may revise sentences, restructure paragraphs, refine word choices, and enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Now, coming back to your question, the activity of distributing a survey to gather information about employees' interests in new benefits would fall under the gathering phase. Gathering involves collecting data or information that will be used as evidence or support for your writing. In this case, the survey responses will provide valuable insights for writing the recommendation report.

So, to recap, the correct answer to your question is (b) Gathering, as this activity of distributing a survey to gather information aligns with that phase of the writing process.