The Writing Process Step 3:
Drafting an Assignment
Time management
When you are writing assignments for your university courses, expect to
revise your written work a minimum of three times before it is ready for
assessment. Revising means making large-scale changes to your paper,
which involves re-developing and re-drafting sections. Therefore, you will
need time not only to generate ideas and to plan your assignment before
the drafting stage, but also to revise and edit your work before submitting
it.
The best approach is to draw up a timetable for each assignment. Your
timetable should allow time for you to complete the five stages of the
writing process: inventing, planning, drafting, revising and editing.
Note that drafting (attempting to write your draft or part of your draft)
comes in the middle of the writing process, not at the end. In other words,
do not attempt to do all of your research and then ‘write up’ your draft at
the last minute. Writing down your ideas and notes, planning and
organising your paper’s structure, and drafting and revising are all part of
the ongoing writing process.
Never submit a rough draft for assessment - which is what would happen if
you did not revise and edit your writing.
Drafting an Assignment
Time management
When you are writing assignments for your university courses, expect to
revise your written work a minimum of three times before it is ready for
assessment. Revising means making large-scale changes to your paper,
which involves re-developing and re-drafting sections. Therefore, you will
need time not only to generate ideas and to plan your assignment before
the drafting stage, but also to revise and edit your work before submitting
it.
The best approach is to draw up a timetable for each assignment. Your
timetable should allow time for you to complete the five stages of the
writing process: inventing, planning, drafting, revising and editing.
Note that drafting (attempting to write your draft or part of your draft)
comes in the middle of the writing process, not at the end. In other words,
do not attempt to do all of your research and then ‘write up’ your draft at
the last minute. Writing down your ideas and notes, planning and
organising your paper’s structure, and drafting and revising are all part of
the ongoing writing process.
Never submit a rough draft for assessment - which is what would happen if
you did not revise and edit your writing.
