Writing Focus – Drafting

Think about someone you know who has been very successful in his or her career. If it seems that the success of the person you are thinking of is the result of being born with innate gifts and talents, think again. Everyone who succeeds in life must work hard for it. That tennis player may hold an impressive record for championship winds, but how many games did she lose before she became a champion? That famous singer may have received a dozen awards and accolades for his performance, but how much practice and rehearsal did he have to go through to get his song just right? Even the most experienced writers go through numerous drafts before their work is ready for publication. Whether or not writing comes easily to you, you are already on your way to composing a high-quality research paper by taking the time and effort to plan your paper carefully. It all began with conducting careful research and creating an outline. Now that you are ready to compose your first draft, keep in mind that you will have more than one chance to get it just right.

Like anything in life, good writing is the result of hard work, planning, and dedication, so do not restrict yourself to thinking that your writing skills are already set in stone. Practice makes perfect.

Essential Questions

• What are the elements of a rough draft?
  
• What are plagiarism and its consequences?