Stage 2 of the writing process is the rough draft, also called the first draft or the sloppy copy.  I prefer sloppy copy because it reminds the students that once they revise and proofread their first draft, it will be a sloppy copy. Before beginning this rough framework, students must be given a chance to prewrite or make a plan for what they will be including. They need a true sense of the audience, the purpose for writing,  and how they want their paper organized.  They bring to the table their research, notes, outline, or whatever graphic organizer they have developed.

At this point, teachers and/or students need to develop a time frame for the writing.  Students should be made aware of any specific instructions such as length, number of paragraphs,  and whether or not they are expected to have a title on the paper.  Some teachers require students to skip lines when they write to allow for revisions. Some like students to write on both sides of the paper while others prefer one side.  Regardless, students need to know these specifics before beginning the sloppy copy.

Requiring students to write five paragraphs in a paper or essay does not ensure an interesting style or a paper that is organized.  Students need to know their papers should include a beginning, a middle, and an ending but that organization may come in many forms.  Formulaic writing is not the end-all (I will be writing about formulaic writing at a later date.) , and we should be cautious when teaching the five-paragraph essay without spending  much time on developing style, voice, and word choice.

With this in mind, let’s get busy and give our students the chance to write, write, write.