Drafting
Drafting is the process of refining thought
Generating ideas and making choices about purpose, audience, and approach
The central focus of the paper: commit but maintain flexibility
First draft
Get ideas on paper: freewrite
Focus on the body: Topic sentences, Evidence;
Evaluate: Need more evidence? Need to revise/change thesis?
Second draft
Make needed revisions. Focus on the introduction and conclusion: Consider strategies.
Check for transitions between ideas and within paragraphs.
Rough draft
Revise/refine sentencing: combine sentences, delete unnecessary wording, add parallel structure.
Save file in more than one location.
Revising
Read critically: Questions? Grammatical errors? How can those be eliminated?
"Hints at thesis and snares reader's attention" (Nadell, McMeniman, and Langan 81).
Editing
Check spelling, punctuation, grammar
Patterns or templates used for providing identifying information and
documenting sources
Editing
Check spelling, punctuation, grammar (one more time)
Final
A formatted paper saved using an appropriate file name:
course number_author's last name_first name_assignment ID