RS1 - The Rough Draft Lesson

During the research process so far in this module, you have created a topic, thesis statement, topic sentences, and supporting details. You have located reliable sources and specific evidence in those sources to support your claims and you have noted the source citations and in-text citations for each piece of evidence used. By now, you are prepared to analyze how the evidence supports claims as you write the rough draft.

During the rough draft process, the writing does not have to be perfect, but there are questions to ask throughout the process. Let's review:

Questions to Ask During The Rough Draft Process
1. Do I have a clear thesis that meets all of the thesis requirements?
2. Do all of my topic sentences directly relate to the thesis statement?
3. Does all information and evidence in my body paragraphs directly relate to the respective topic sentence and support my claims?
4. Does each body paragraph have a conclusion sentence?
5. Did I make sure my introduction and conclusion are not simply summaries?

As you write your rough draft, consider using the brainstorm outline to help you construct your argument. The analysis portion of the rough draft is very important and this chart will ensure that you properly incorporate analysis of your claims. Analyzing evidence should not be a summary of the evidence—the analysis should pinpoint how the evidence proves the claims. Let's review the example of evidence analysis below.

Thesis: Serving the President of the United States of America has several benefits but contains aspects some people do not prefer in a career.

Body 1 Topic: The President of the United States has a great amount of power which appears beneficial in certain situations.

Develop: The president can go wherever he wants at any point in time by making a single phone call.

Evidence: Today, “[t]he President of the United States must be ready to travel anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice. Fortunately, modern presidents have access to a variety of transportation options - including flying aboard Air Force One” (“Air Force Once”).

Analysis: The president has his own airplane that he can use, so he can travel around the world whenever he wants or needs. Having an airplane at one’s disposal reveals power that few people have.

Transition: Furthermore, the President can veto a law if he does not want the law in the country.

Evidence: In government, “[e]very bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with his objections…” (US Const. amend. 1 sec. 7).

Analysis: The president does not have to allow a law that he thinks is not good for the country. The ability to choose what laws are helpful reveal the great amount of power the President holds.

Remember that the purpose of the rough draft is to put together a cohesive and well-organized argument for revision. Once the Rough Draft is complete, the revision process can begin.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.