"To make a draft or rough copy of (a document); to draw up in a preliminary form, which may be afterwards perfected." OED
"To make or construct skillfully (craft)." OED
Once you've picked a topic, organized your ideas, done some research/investigation, and whatever else you need to do in order to feel comfortable with your focus—now it's time to attempt the form of your project.
At the Knowledge Market, we say "attempting form" when we mean this: if your assignment is a paper, you're drafting when your work starts to look like the paper—if your assignment is a speech, you're crafting when it starts to look like something you'd present—if your assignment is a video or a podcast or a poster, then you're attempting the form when…well, you probably get the idea.
What is Drafting?
Drafting is an attempt at the form using compiled thoughts, ideas, outlines, and notes. It is an essential part of the academic and creative processes. To do so, begin by exploring your thoughts and ideas. Write out connections, ask questions, and engage the topic to develop or expand upon your thesis statement. Keep in mind that drafting doesn’t necessarily mean writing an essay draft. It can also mean sketching a piece of art or crafting a speech.
Prewriting and Thesis Statement
- Prewriting typically includes brainstorming, outlining, note-taking, freewriting, etc.
- Use your notes, outline, and prewriting results to develop a thesis statement.
- The thesis statement is typically a one-sentence statement of the central idea of your assignment. It’s a concise statement that sums up the assignment’s purpose.
Begin Drafting
- Use your outline as a guide and begin attempting the form.
- Follow the natural flow of your assignment to develop a completed draft of the assignment.
Practice that Speech
"Practice makes perfect." We have all heard the cliché time and time again, but as speakers we can use this as a motto when preparing. While perfection shouldn't be the ultimate end goal, it is clear that practicing and preparing before a presentation can make all the difference. In order to become more confident, and even brush away some of those nerves, it is important to be well prepared for a presentation. Practicing can instill more confidence in a speaker and help produce an overall better product. Below, different approaches to practicing a presentation are discussed. (Taken From "Practicing Presentations")
Learn More
Here are some strategies and ideas to support you when you're drafting or crafting your project:
