Step 8: Writing Rough Draft

Step 8: Writing the Rough Draft

Introduction – How do I start?

1. Use a Hook – anecdote, statistic, quotation, surprising statement. Cite if needed
2. Link the hook to the next sentence.
3. Background or History relevant to the topic
4. Significance – state the scope of the issue and why it is important. Quantify with statistics or find expert opinions. Cite if necessary.
5. Thesis – one sentence, the last sentence in the introduction

Introductions to Avoid

• A Vague Generality Don’t extend too wide with a line like “Throughout human history”
• A Flat Announcement – Don’t start with “The purpose of this essay is…”
• According to Webster… - Don’t start by quoting the dictionary.
• An Apology – Don’t start with “I’m not sure if I’m right.”

Body: Three thesis points – What do I write about?

**Each thesis point must have a strong topic sentence!

1. Transition and introduce your points.
2. Provide research to support point using proper citations.
3. Explain the information, draw conclusions.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for you second and third point.

Body: Refutation - What do I argue?

**Use strong topic sentences

1. Transition and introduce an alternate or opposite viewpoint

2. Provide research to support the opposition’s stance.

3. State why the opposition’s viewpoint is wrong and your stance is still right.

4. Repeat for second opposition’s viewpoint.

How to refute an argument

• Name: Briefly identify the counter-argument
• Explain: Give supporting evidence for the opposition’s viewpoint.
• Refute: State why the opposition is wrong.
• Conclude: Restate your corresponding thesis point

To refute an argument, present good reasons why its conclusions or reasons are wrong.

Conclusion – How do I end the paper?

1. Summarize main points. Do not simply repeat the paper, find a new way to present points.
2. Answer the question “So what?” Now that the reader has read your paper, what should he/she do about it or get out of it? Make it relevant again.
3. Wrap back to your introduction to give closure. Did you tell a story? Bring the story back to conclude. Did you give a quotation? Refer back to those words for significance. Did you give a fact/statistic? Refer back that fact/statistic for emphasis.
4. DO NOT begin with “in conclusion.”

Strategies for Writing a Conclusion

• A conclusion should stress the importance of the thesis statement, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader.

Suggestions:

• Answer the question “So what?” – Show the reader why this paper was important and useful.
• Synthesize, Don’t Summarize – Don’t simply repeat the words that were in your paper. Show the reader how the points you made fit together.
• Redirect Your Readers – Give your reader something to think about.
• Create a New Meaning – You don’t have to give new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas work together, you can create a new picture.

Strategies:

• Echo the Introduction – Echoing the introduction can be a good strategy if it is meant to bring the reader full-circle. If you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay was helpful in creating a new understanding.
• Challenge the Reader – By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are helping them to redirect the information in the paper and apply it to their own lives.
• Look to the Future – This an emphasize the importance of your paper or redirect a reader’s thought process. It may help them apply the new information to their lives.

Writing Tips

Overall Tips for Success

• Remember formal language means no contractions, no slang, no conversational tone
• Use active voice, not passive.
• Use descriptive language and verbs. Avoid “be” verbs (is, are, was, were)
• Do not use first person (I, my, me, our, us, we) or second person (you, your) except in the introduction and conclusion.
• Use quotation marks when you are quoting directly from a source. Cite sources correctly.
• Use your outline and note cards to help you write your paper. Follow your outline and organize your note cards by topic.
• Pronouns should agree in number - If the pronoun takes the place of a singular noun, you have to use a singular pronoun. Student = he/she, students = they

Organization of Paper

• Organize from least important point to most important point. If this changes from your original thesis, go back and change your thesis order. Remember the three points of your thesis must be in the same order as those in your paper.
• Stick to one idea per paragraph. Paragraphs should not be a page long! Make a new paragraph for each new idea.
• Use transitions often to help your reader move from point to point. If you are switching ideas, insert a transition. Examples of transitions: however, in addition, another, therefore, etc.

Transitional Words and Phrases

Illustration thus, for example, for instance, namely, to illustrate, in other words, in particular,

specifically, such as

Contrast on the contrary, contrarily, notwithstanding, but, however, nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet, on one hand, on the other hand, rather, or, nor, conversely, at the same time, while this may be true

Addition and, in addition to, furthermore, moreover, besides, than, too, also, another, equally important, first, second, again, further, last, finally, as well as, next, likewise, similarly, in fact, as a result, consequently, in the same way, for example, for instance, however, thus, therefore, otherwise

Time after, afterward, before, then, once, next, last, at last, at first, formerly, rarely, usually, soon, for a minute, during the day, most important, to begin with, generally, in order to, previously, eventually

Concession although, at any rate, at least, still, thought, even though, granted that, while it may be true, in spite of

Emphasis above all, indeed, truly, of course, certainly, surely, in fact

Details specifically, especially, in particular, to explain

Examples for example, for instance, thus

Consequence so that, with the result that, hence, accordingly, for this reason, due to

Summary therefore, finally, thus, in short, in conclusion, accordingly

Suggestion for this purpose, to this end, with this in mind

Basic Number Rules to Follow

1. Spell a number that begins a sentence. Example: Thirty-seven people attended the meeting.

2. Spell numbers 1-10 if there are no larger numbers in the sentence..

Example 1: There are six people in the room.

Example 2: There are 26 students in my class. (Numbers larger than 10 are not spelled out.)

Example 3: There are 12 biology books, 5 dictionaries, and 18 math books. (The number 5 is in a sentence with other larger numbers, so to remain consistent 5 is not spelled out.)

3. Use figures to express dates and times. Example: The meeting will be on August 12 at 3:15 p.m.

4. Use figures to express measures and weights. Example: The arrow was 2.5 inches from the target.

5. Use figures for numbers following nouns. Example: Room 8 has 27 desks.

6. Use figures for a series of fractions, but spell isolated fractions and indefinite numbers.

Example 1: They ran ¼ and ½ mile relays.

Example 2: There were about thirty people at the meeting.

7. Centuries and decades should be spelled out. Use the Eighties or the nineteenth century

8. Spell out the percentage, do not use the symbol. Use twelve percent

9. If the number is rounded or estimated, spell it out. Use 400 million not 400,000,000

10. If you have two numbers next to each other, write out one of them. Use seven 13-year-olds

11. Spell out ordinal numbers. Use first not 1st