Writing the first draft of an essay can often seem like the most daunting part of an assignment. It’s no wonder many students skip this step entirely and go to the final draft. However, with a structured approach and the right tools, you can learn how to simplify the process and even make it enjoyable. Today, we’ll cover seven simple steps to teach you how to write the first draft of your essay.
The first draft of any essay is like creating the frame of a house. By laying the groundwork out first, you get a clear picture of where your essay can go (and where it can’t). Throughout this process, we’ll show you how to integrate Smodin’s AI tools to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness.
Remember that the first draft doesn’t have to be perfect—in fact, it shouldn’t be perfect. That’s why it’s called a “rough draft.” Believe it or not, having a perfectly polished first draft can actually make the writing process more difficult in the long run. Getting your thoughts on paper first allows you the flexibility to adjust and reorganize as you go.
Without further ado, here are the seven steps for writing a dynamic and impactful first draft.
Read The Question/Assignment
As simple as it may sound, reading the question/assignment to ensure your understanding is one of the most effective things you can do. If necessary, read the question once, twice, or three times. If you try that and the question still isn’t straightforward, try reading the question out loud a few times.
Thoroughly reading the assignment is crucial to your writing success. Misunderstanding the prompt is a common pitfall for many students. Even the best writing in the world can’t save an essay if it’s entirely off-topic. So, before you write a single word of your first draft, ensure you’re 100% clear on the topic.
To further enhance your understanding of your assignment, tap into the power of Smodin’s AI Chat feature. This tool can act like a personal tutor to help you understand complex topics or confusing assignments. Simply input your assignment question, and the AI can explain the key points to focus on.
Pick Your Topic and Stick With It
Once you fully understand the assignment, the next step is to pick your topic — and stick with it. One of the biggest mistakes students make is jumping from one assignment option to another. Make things simple. Pick the first topic that jumps out at you and stick with it.
But what if nothing jumps out at you? What if you look at the list of topics and feel completely lost? At this stage, you want to evaluate each idea based on the scope of the assignment and your personal interest. Score each topic with a number between one and ten. Even if you can’t pick your topic right away, narrowing it down to two or three options is a great start.
Once you narrow down your topics, use tools like Smodin’s AI chat to find the one that resonates with you. You can then plug this topic into Smodin’s AI Writer and quickly generate an outline you can use to complete your first draft. The tool is handy for creating several different outlines and essays without spending hours writing them yourself.
Make a 5-Point Outline
Creating a simple, structured outline helps you delineate your essay’s main themes and arguments. Again, this is a rough outline, and it can and will change as you progress through the writing process.
Start by identifying your essay’s central thesis or argument. Then, outline five overarching points to support and develop this thesis. These points can represent different themes, clusters, or angles that contribute something unique to the discussion.
For example, if your thesis is about the impact of digital technology on the contemporary education system, your five points might be:
- Learning styles
- Access to information
- Attention spans
- Educational software
- The role of AI tools
Each point would explore a different fact of how technology influences education outcomes for students.
If you need help with this process, Smodin’s AI tools can once again act as your private tutor. The AI can suggest key themes or guide you in structuring your points to ensure a balanced and comprehensive argument.
Find the Sources That Support Your Argument
After you have a rough outline structure, it’s time to gather sources that can bolster your argument. Reliable and relevant sources will provide the necessary evidence to support your essay’s credibility. Always select sources that are factually accurate and relevant to the points you plan to discuss.
Use academic databases, libraries, and credible online resources to find books, scholarly articles, and studies that align with your essay’s themes. Evaluate each source for its relevance and reliability—check the publication date, author’s credentials, and the source’s intended audience to ensure it’s suitable for your essay.
For example, let’s say you’re writing a history essay about the Industrial Revolution in Europe. You might look for scholarly articles on demographic changes, socioeconomic shifts, or imperialism. You can also search for firsthand accounts, such as letters, diaries, or newspaper articles.
Additionally, Smodin’s AI Summarizer can assist in quickly scanning and summarizing these documents.
You can also tap into the power of Smodin’s AI Research Paper Writer to search through Google Scholar to find and cite sources for your essay.
Write Your Introduction
Contrary to what many students might assume, writing your introduction last can be incredibly beneficial. After you have developed your arguments and laid out the body of your essay, you should clearly understand the main points and themes. This makes it easier to craft an introduction that effectively sets the stage for what is to come.
Your introduction should provide a brief overview of the main arguments that will attract your reader’s interest (in this case, that’s probably your teacher or professor). Start with a hook — an exciting statement, quote, statistic, or question.
Then, provide a brief overview of what you’ll discuss in the essay. Finally, wrap it up with a strong thesis statement that encapsulates your essay’s central argument or purpose. While writing the introductory paragraph, your goal should be to entice your reader to continue reading to the next section.
Yes, your teacher or professor may have no choice but to read your essay. Nevertheless, you should still do everything possible to make the process enjoyable.
Write the Body of Your Essay
When you write the body of your essay, you want to present evidence to support your thesis. Each paragraph should focus on a single point or theme in your 5-point plan.
Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that states the point being discussed. Follow this with evidence from your research—facts, quotes, statistics, and examples—and explain how this supports your point.
Ensure that each paragraph flows logically to the next, maintaining a cohesive argument. Use transitional phrases to connect paragraphs and clarify the relationships between your points.
If you find gaps in your argument or need additional evidence, consider revisiting your research sources or using Smodin’s Research Paper Writer to help fill these gaps efficiently. It can help you create research-quality content with citations up to 5000 words.
Write the Conclusion of Your Essay
When you write the conclusion of your essay, your primary goal should be to reinforce your thesis. You want to avoid simply restating the same point from the opening paragraph. Instead, blend the information and tie all your points together clearly to demonstrate your new understanding of the topic.
The conclusion is your last chance to leave an impact on the reader, so make it count. Conclude the essay with a strong statement that both concludes your argument and opens a path toward future discussions. Again, don’t leave anything to chance; make it easy for the person grading your essay to make a decision.
You can always run your essay through Smodin’s AI Chat to help you write an articulate and engaging conclusion. Remember, writing is not an exact science, so don’t be afraid to experiment with several different conclusions. With Smodin, you can take the tediousness out of writing and focus on crafting a narrative that will resonate with your teacher or professor.
FAQs
Why should I write the introduction last?
Writing the introduction last allows you to better match it with the content of your essay. As you craft your essay, you will add and subtract arguments. This method allows consistency between what you promised in the introduction and what you delivered.
How long should each paragraph of my essay be?
Generally, paragraphs should be around 150-200 words each. They should focus on a single main idea supported by evidence and analysis. This structure maintains clarity and coherence so that every paragraph contributes something unique to the overall argument of your essay.
How can AI tools like Smoiden help me write my essay?
Smodin’s AI tools can assist in various stages of the essay writing process. They can generate detailed outlines, paraphrase complex information, summarize extensive research, and ensure grammatical accuracy. These capabilities make the writing process smoother and more productive.
Should I edit my first draft as I write it?
While you can make minor adjustments while crafting your first draft, the most important thing is getting your ideas down on paper. Delaying any significant edits until the first draft is complete helps maintain your flow and increases your output. You can revisit your paper for revisions and polish your ideas in the second and third drafts.