Writing is a process whose finished product is a sentence, a paragraph, an essay, etc.
If the topic is assigned the directions for the assignment will limit and determine the approach to take. Instructions must be read carefully and directions must be followed exactly. If the student is free to select a topic, it is important to reflect on the value and meaning of the finished product. A writer should select something he is interested in and knowledgeable about, but he should also anticipate the desired effect he hopes to achieve and the reader's reaction he is looking for. The purpose will be to inform, to entertain, or to persuade.