Test Your
Progress
Describing a process: writing an essay
This exercise is designed to allow students to assess their progress in academic writing.
䊏 Study the flow chart below, which explains the process of writing an essay. Then
complete the description of the process by adding one suitable word to each gap in
the text opposite.
START HERE
Understand title Brainstorm topic and Evaluate possible
and prepare make draft outline. sources and select
schedule of work. most relevant.
Make notes on key
Write first draft of Write first draft of main
points using
introduction and body from notes.
paraphrasing and
conclusion. Avoid any plagiarism.
summarising.
Finalise list of
Re-read first draft
references, appendices Proofread entire text
and revise where
and other additional and hand in on time.
necessary.
items.
Test Your Progress 235
The first (a) _______________ of essay writing is to read and understand
(b) _______________ title, and then to prepare a schedule of work
(c) _______________ the available time. (d) _______________ the topic should
be brainstormed (e) _______________ a draft outline prepared. Next, possible
sources have to be evaluated (f) _______________ and the most relevant selected,
after (g) _______________ you can start making notes, using paraphrasing and
summarising (h) _______________. When you have collected enough material to
(i) _______________ the question, the first draft of the main body can
(j) _______________ written from the notes, (k) _______________ care to avoid any
plagiarism. Subsequently, (l) _______________ can write the first draft of the
introduction and conclusion, (m) _______________ that a logical approach to the
title is developed. (n) _______________ this the whole draft must be critically reread
and revised for (o) _______________ clarity and accuracy. The penultimate stage is
(p) _______________ prepare a final list of references, appendices and other items
such as (q) _______________. Finally, the whole text (r) _______________ be
thoroughly proofread before handing in the assignment on time.