English Composition 101: Writing Process - Drafting Introduction Body Conclusion Paragraph Structure Topic Sentence Supporting Evidence Concluding Sentence Cohesion Transitions

What It Is

Drafting is the process of creating a first draft of a written work, such as an essay or research paper. A well-crafted draft provides a solid foundation for revision and editing. For example, a student might write a draft of an essay arguing that social media has a negative impact on mental health. The draft might include a clear introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points. This matters because a strong draft helps students communicate their ideas effectively and persuasively in academic and professional writing.

Core Principles

• Thesis statement: A clear claim that answers the prompt and provides a roadmap for the essay. Example: "Social media has a negative impact on mental health because it promotes comparison and competition."
• Topic sentence: A sentence that introduces the main idea of a paragraph. Example: "The constant stream of curated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem."
• Supporting evidence: Facts, statistics, or expert opinions that support the topic sentence. Example: "According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology, people who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety."
• Concluding sentence: A sentence that summarizes the main point of a paragraph. Example: "In conclusion, the negative impact of social media on mental health is a pressing concern that requires attention and action."
• Cohesion: The connection between sentences and paragraphs that helps the reader follow the writer's argument. Example: "In addition to promoting comparison and competition, social media also perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards."
• Transitions: Words or phrases that connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs. Example: "However, some argue that social media has a positive impact on mental health by providing a sense of community and connection."
• Paragraph structure: A clear introduction, body, and conclusion that provides a logical flow of ideas. Example:
  • Introduction: Introduce the topic and provide background information.
  • Body: Provide evidence and analysis to support the thesis statement.
  • Conclusion: Summarize the main points and reiterate the thesis statement.
• MLA formatting: Use a legible font (12-point Times New Roman), double-space the text, and indent paragraphs five spaces. Example: "According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology (Smith, 2020), people who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety."
• APA formatting: Use a legible font (12-point Times New Roman), double-space the text, and indent paragraphs five spaces. Example: "According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology (Smith, 2020), people who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety."
• Citation: Provide credit to sources by citing them in the text and including a reference list. Example: "According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology (Smith, 2020), people who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety."
• Transitions between paragraphs: Use words or phrases that connect ideas between paragraphs. Example: "However, some argue that social media has a positive impact on mental health by providing a sense of community and connection."
• Transitions within paragraphs: Use words or phrases that connect ideas within paragraphs. Example: "In addition to promoting comparison and competition, social media also perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards."
• Punctuation: Use commas, semicolons, and periods correctly to separate ideas and provide clarity. Example: "The constant stream of curated images on social media, can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem."
• Sentence structure: Vary sentence structure to create interest and variety. Example: "The constant stream of curated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Additionally, social media perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards."
• Word choice: Use precise and descriptive language to convey ideas. Example: "The constant stream of curated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem."
• Tone: Use a tone that is clear, concise, and respectful. Example: "The constant stream of curated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem."

Common Writing Errors

• Error: "Social media has a negative impact on mental health because it is bad."
• Why it fails: This sentence lacks specific evidence and analysis to support the claim.
• Correction: "Social media has a negative impact on mental health because it promotes comparison and competition, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem."
• Error: "The constant stream of curated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, because it is true."
• Why it fails: This sentence lacks evidence and analysis to support the claim.
• Correction: "According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology, people who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression and anxiety."
• Error: "Social media has a negative impact on mental health because it is good."
• Why it fails: This sentence contradicts the claim and lacks evidence and analysis to support the opposite claim.
• Correction: "However, some argue that social media has a positive impact on mental health by providing a sense of community and connection."

Quick Application

1. Prompt: You are arguing that college tuition should be free. Write a thesis statement.
2. Model answer: "College tuition should be free because it would increase access to higher education and reduce student debt."
3. Explanation: This thesis statement clearly answers the prompt and provides a roadmap for the essay.
4. Prompt: You are writing an essay about the benefits of exercise. Write a paragraph that includes a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concluding sentence.
5. Model answer: "Regular exercise has numerous benefits for physical and mental health. For example, a study published in the Journal of Sports Science found that regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease by 30%. In conclusion, incorporating exercise into our daily routine can have a significant impact on our overall well-being."
6. Explanation: This paragraph includes a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concluding sentence that summarizes the main point.
7. Prompt: You are writing an essay about the impact of social media on mental health. Write a paragraph that includes a transition word or phrase.
8. Model answer: "However, some argue that social media has a positive impact on mental health by providing a sense of community and connection. For example, social media platforms can connect people with others who share similar interests and experiences."
9. Explanation: This paragraph includes a transition word or phrase that connects the ideas between sentences and paragraphs.

Last-Minute Revision

• Commas: Use commas to separate items in a list, but not to separate independent clauses.
• Semicolons: Use semicolons to separate independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.
• Punctuation: Use periods to end sentences, but not to separate items in a list.
• Citation: Provide credit to sources by citing them in the text and including a reference list.
• Transitions: Use words or phrases that connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs.
• Sentence structure: Vary sentence structure to create interest and variety.
• Word choice: Use precise and descriptive language to convey ideas.
• Tone: Use a tone that is clear, concise, and respectful.
• MLA formatting: Use a legible font (12-point Times New Roman), double-space the text, and indent paragraphs five spaces.
• APA formatting: Use a legible font (12-point Times New Roman), double-space the text, and indent paragraphs five spaces.
• Cohesion: The connection between sentences and paragraphs that helps the reader follow the writer's argument.
• Transitions within paragraphs: Use words or phrases that connect ideas within paragraphs.
• Transitions between paragraphs: Use words or phrases that connect ideas between paragraphs.
• Punctuation traps: Avoid using commas to separate independent clauses, and use semicolons to separate closely related independent clauses.
• Citation details: Provide credit to sources by citing them in the text and including a reference list.