writing the paragraphs in the first draft - Pearson Learning Solutions

Chapter 6 • Writing the Paragraphs in the First Draft
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reminder to yourself in the margin (“Fix this,” “Redo,” or “Ugh!”) to finetune the
section later. Or leave a blank space to hold a spot for the right words when they
finally break loose. It may also help to reread—out loud is best—what you’ve
already written. Regaining a sense of the larger context is often enough to get you
moving again. You might also try talking your way through a troublesome
section. Like most people, you probably speak more easily than you write; by
speaking aloud, you tap this oral fluency and put it to work in your writing.
If a section of the essay strikes you as particularly difficult, don’t spend time
struggling with it. Move on to an easier section, write that, and then return to the
challenging part. If you’re still getting nowhere, take a break. Watch television, listen
to music, talk with friends. While you’re relaxing, your thoughts may loosen
up and untangle the knotty section. If, on the other hand, an obligation such as a
class or an appointment forces you to stop writing when the draft is going well,
jot down a few notes in the margin to remind yourself of your train of thought.
The notes will keep you from getting stuck when you pick up the draft later.
A SUGGESTED SEQUENCE FOR WRITING
THE FIRST DRAFT
Because you read essays from beginning to end, you may assume that writers
work the same way, starting with the introduction and going straight through to
the conclusion. Often, however, this isn’t the case. In fact, since an introduction
depends so heavily on everything that follows, it’s usually best to write the
introduction after the essay’s body.
When preparing your first draft, you may find it helpful to follow this
sequence:
1. Write the essay’s supporting paragraphs.
2. Write the other paragraphs in the essay’s body.
3. Write the introduction.
4. Write the conclusion.
Write the Supporting Paragraphs
Before starting to write the essay’s supporting paragraphs, enter your thesis at
the top of the page. You might even underline key words in the thesis to keep
yourself focused on the central ideas you plan to develop. Also, now that you’ve
planned the essay’s overall organization, you may want to add to your thesis a
plan of development: a brief overview of the essay’s major points in the exact order
in which you will discuss those points. (For more on plans of development, see
pages 40–41.)
Not every essay needs a plan of development. In a brief paper, readers can
often keep track of ideas without this extra help. But in a longer, more complex
essay, a plan of development helps readers follow the progression of main points