Writing Drafts

Once you have researched your information, learned about your topic, made notes and categorized them according to your sub-topics, it is time to write your first draft. Here are some tips:

• Use a separate piece of paper for each sub-topic. The heading for your page will be the sub-topic name.
• Write on every second line so that it is easier to make changes when you proof read.
• Start with the easiest sub-topic, or the sub-topic for which you have the most information.
• Read through your jot notes for that sub-topic to help you remember the important points about what you have learned. Start to formulate sentences which will communicate the meaning you have created in your mind.
• Your first sentence should be a 'topic' sentence to help the reader understand what the rest of the paragraph or sub-topic is about.
• Try to 'write for the reader'. In other words, you have to communicate your learning to the reader so that they can learn too. The reader has to learn everything from your writing.
• Consider how much you are writing. Is it too short or too long? Do you have all of the required information?
• Read over your first draft and make corrections. Insert additional information where necessary so that the reader has a clear understanding.
• Ask someone else to read your work and make suggestions for editing and improvement. (The person you choose should be someone who will read your work critically and who will make helpful suggestions about spelling, grammar and whether your writing makes sense.)
• Once your first draft has been edited, you may need to write a second draft to pull the corrections and suggestions together.
• When you have completed writing the drafts for all of your sub-topics, consider how you will make your final presentation.