Chapter 21: Strategies for Drafting

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Chapter 21 Reading Response:

This meme on the left of a funny scene from The Emperor's New Groove perfectly sums up the process of writing and rewriting an essay.

Essay drafting can be frustrating and repetitive, but it does not have to be. With the right tips and tricks, drafting can be fun and interesting.

I would never have thought that a textbook could give ideas of how to make writing fun, but this chapter surprised me with loads of helpful (and fun) tips to make the process of drafting less of a chore and more of a discovery.

I am personally super excited to try some of the tips in this chapter. One tip that interested me is the technique of recording yourself talking about your topic, and then transcribing it to create your first draft. This idea seems like it might help me word each sentence in a more conversational way and be less likely to get stuck staring at a blank document on my computer. I think this technique could also be used to summarize or paraphrase source information.

Another notable tip is to write down the next idea, thought, or topic sentence of the next paragraph before you stop to take a break. That way, when you return to your paper, you will be able to remember and continue your train of thought. This is a great trick for those who get writer's block, which is pretty much everyone at some point.

As a student and blogger, it will be helpful to note some things from this chapter. One idea that I think will be good to remember is the concept that it is acceptable to place a topic sentence at the beginning or end of a paragraph or to simply imply the topic of a paragraph without stating it plainly. I always thought I had to place the topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph, but now I know it is just as correct to place it at the end or to imply it.

Overall, this chapter gives quite a few techniques and strategies for organizing one's thoughts, which is something I find myself needing help with as a writer. So far, The Bedford Guide for College Writers has been a great textbook for English. Now, thanks to chapter 21, I won't be quite as much like Kronk.

Written by Hayley Leach