The Writing Process: Drafting

by Tarasine A. Buck

Warm-Up Writing

Listen to the story from your teacher’s life.

Each time your teacher stops, write down what you would do in this situation or what you think happened next.

The Writing Process

Pre-Writing Polishing Drafting Revising Editing

Finding the Main Idea

Read the second paragraph in the essay “Y2K and the New Millennium” on the back of your “Typed Draft Guidelines” sheet.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Outlines

An outline is like a “skeleton” of an essay.

It shows the “bare bones” or main ideas of the essay structure.

You can use an outline when you are reading or when you are writing.

An outline helps you to organize ideas.

Sample Outline

I.

II.

III.

IV.

Introduction: What is Y2K?

Why people were afraid What really happened on January 1 st 2000 Conclusion: What people will do now.

Practicing Outlines

With your partner, read the essay “Getting to Know the Other Side of the World.” Write an outline of the main ideas of the essay.

From Pre-Writing to First Draft

Pre-Writing Notes Outline First Draft

Sample Pre-Writing

I don’t know what to write about. Maybe about my brother’s boat accident. We were so scared. We thought he was going to drown. He was trapped under an overturned boat and didn’t have any air to breathe. But it ended all right. He was rescued and only had a broken arm. What else can I write about? Oh! I know. A day I will always remember was the day I left my country to come to the U.S. That was a sad/happy day. I felt sad and happy at the same time. Maybe I should write about something happy. Our family vacation last summer was fun. We drove to the coast and camped for a week on the beach. Then there was the day the earthquake happened. Now

that

was definitely a memorable event. I will never forget it. I was at home with my older sister and little brother . . .

Sample Outline

I.

II.

II.

Introduction: Before the earthquake Body A.

B.

During the earthquake Right after the earthquake C.

Two hours after the earthquake Conclusion

Sample Essay

Read the sample essay “Earthquake!” on the handout. Answer the following questions with your partner or group.

How did the writer organize his ideas? (How did he decide what to write first, second, next, etc.?) What words and phrases does the writer use to explain what happened first, second, etc.?

Practicing Outlines

Now take your own pre-writing notes and organize them into an outline.

From this outline, begin writing the paragraphs of your rough draft.

Read the “Rough Draft Guidelines” handout for more information on rough drafts.