and Why the First Draft Is Crucial
Pauline
Gassman and Anna Hoppe
—Hanson CTC Peer Consultants
In the past, we have had both good and
bad experiences when writing a paper in a group setting. In most cases, when you are assigned a group
project, the other group members are willing to invest time into writing a
great paper and the writing process ants to get a passing grade in the class. When you find yourself in this
situation, you could easily end up doing thwill go smoothly. Unfortunately, sometimes
you can be paired with a group member who has no interest in the project and
just we bulk of the writing on your own. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. You will have
to find a way to encourage your partner to participate in the writing process.
The following tips and strategies should help you devise a plan to make this group
project a success.
First
and foremost, writing a first draft is a very important stage in the writing
process. It provides the writer with a chance to meld their thoughts together
and to further develop their ideas. Because it is a preliminary stage in the
writing process, however, many students fail to grasp its importance. In fact,
many students tend to put forth little to no effort when writing a first draft
for an assignment; especially if they are awarded no points for their efforts.
Frequently, students tend to just throw together their first draft, especially
when they are feeling the weight of all of their other school work. Unfortunately,
this only causes more stress and work later on, as it is easier to make
adjustments to a solid paper than it is to totally re-write one.
In addition, a first draft (and any
draft, for that matter) is a reflection on you and your team. If it is poorly
written and sloppily constructed, the person grading it will form a negative
image of you and your teammates. Don’t let this be you! Remember, writing is a process and good writing always takes time. By taking your first
draft seriously and putting forth as much effort as you would for the final
draft, you will be much better off in the long run. The result will be a complete, professional
paper that you, as engineers, can be proud of. So why not put some time into
your paper during the early writing stages. Only good things can come from
having this mindset!
Tips
for Getting Started and Staying on Track
Meet
with Your Group’s Members Early and Often!
ü Review the guidelines for the assignment; make sure
all group members have a clear understanding of the assignment.
ü Create an outline and generate ideas for each section;
be sure to encourage and consider ALL ideas.
ü Divide and Conquer! Give each group member one part of
the draft to write.
ü Develop a group deadline that is a few days before
the actual deadline so that all group members will stay on track and there
will be time for collaboration and revision.
Begin Writing
ü Re-read the guidelines for your assignment and be sure
to include all parts in your draft, even if you feel some parts may be
underdeveloped.
ü Identify your audience; as an engineer, a formal tone
is vital and builds your credibility in the eyes of the reader.
ü Introduce your paper with gusto! Be sure to capture
the reader’s attention in your first paragraph so they will want to continue reading.
ü Continue to build on each previous paragraph with
smooth transitions; walk your reader through your topic, don’t just bombard
him/her with information.
Bring Each Section Together
ü As a group, work together to compile each section into
a cohesive paper.
ü Work with your teammates, not against them.
ü Be sure to consider all ideas and include those with
the most weight.
ü Do not just copy and paste together each group members’
sections.
ü Choose one person to combine all the sections and
establish a uniform voice.
ü Take turns reading the paper aloud to see how well it flows
together.
Make an Appointment with the Hanson CTC
ü Even if your professor does not require you to make an
appointment with the CTC center, you are wise to do so.
ü Acquiring an outside opinion is always helpful as many
unnoticed mistakes can be corrected.
ü If you are having trouble unifying the voices of your
group members, the CTC can help you identify and fix contradictory information,
create smooth transitions between sections, and clarify vague terms or phases.
Conclusion
Thomas
Jefferson described himself as “a great
believer in luck…I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” By
catching mistakes early and investing extra time in writing a clear and
cohesive first draft, you will find it easier—and less stressful—to correct and
polish your final draft into an exceptionally written paper.