Rough Drafts


In this lesson, we’ll dive into the first stages of the writing process: planning and drafting. These are crucial steps in producing well-structured and coherent essays. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to effectively plan your writing and begin drafting your essay.

Planning Your Writing

Before you start writing, it’s essential to plan your essay. This planning phase helps you organize your thoughts and ensures that your essay flows logically. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Understand Your Audience: Consider who will be reading your essay. Your writing style and tone should be appropriate for your audience.
  2. Define Your Purpose: Clearly define the purpose of your essay. Are you informing, persuading, or entertaining your readers?
  3. Choose Your Topic: Select a topic that interests you and aligns with your purpose. Ensure it’s neither too broad nor too narrow.
  4. Generate Ideas: Brainstorm ideas related to your topic. Create a mind map or list key points you want to cover.
  5. Create an Outline: Organize your ideas into an outline. This outline will serve as a roadmap for your essay, helping you structure your content.

Drafting Your Essay

Once you have a solid plan in place, it’s time to start writing your draft. Here are some tips for effective drafting:

  1. Write a Compelling Introduction: Begin with an engaging introduction that grabs your readers’ attention and clearly states your thesis or main idea.
  2. Develop Clear Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on a single point or idea. Start with a topic sentence, provide supporting evidence, and offer explanations or examples.
  3. Use Transitions: Use transitional words and phrases to guide your readers through your essay smoothly. This improves the flow of your writing.
  4. Cite Sources Properly: If you’re incorporating research or quotes, make sure to cite your sources using the appropriate citation style, such as MLA.
  5. Revise and Edit: Don’t worry about perfection in your first draft. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper. You’ll have the opportunity to revise and edit later.

Planning Your Imaginative Essay

It’s fine to write a text to a friend quickly, in one go.

But formal writing — assigned writing assignments, either in your academic or professional career, that is expected to be professional in its planning and execution — requires both planning beforehand, and revisions afterward.

In the next assignment, you’ll practice the planning phase of the writing process. Choose a topic that interests you, define your purpose, generate ideas, and create an outline for your essay. You don’t need to write the entire essay at this stage, just focus on the planning.

Additional Resources

The Purdue OWL: The Purdue University Online Writing Lab is an excellent resource for guidance on various aspects of the writing process, including planning and drafting.