ENGL 101
English Composition I
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• This phase is NOT called writing on purpose
• Writing is the WHOLE process
• Drafting is just the physical act of writing down your ideas in sentence/paragraph form
• Writers get into trouble when they make this phase of the process too dominant
• The thinking should already be done
• If anything, drafting should be a relief to finally have something tangible
• Drafting involves composing draftS
• Yes, plural draftS
• Anything worth sharing with an audience is worth multiple drafts
• The first draft is often called a rough draft for a reason
• How something works on paper is often different than how it works in your head or in an outline
• This is NOT an increase in your workload
• Trying to make everything perfect the first time is what adds time and pressure
• How much time is wasted staring at the screen or paper trying to figure out WHAT to write?
• Knowing that things will change frees the writer
• Following the process and thinking BEFORE drafting frees the writer
• Drafting is really filling in the blanks on the outline/organization plan
• Word processing is encouraged (not required)
• Not having to erase or re-type is a revelation
• Once you learn to cut and paste, revision is your friend
• You begin to see the paper differently when changes are easy to make
• People used to word processing revise without even realizing it
• Writers begin to see drafting as what it is, not as the final product
• So sit down and DO IT
• If you’ve followed the process, you should have generated ideas already
• You should have organized those ideas in some way
• Drafting, knowing that it doesn’t have to be perfect, should be quick and painless
• In this class, the “rough” draft will be shared with and reviewed by fellow classmates
• Peer reviewers are early audience “test”