DRAFTING THE PAPER IN AN ACADEMIC STYLE As you draft, your voice should flow from one idea to the next smoothly and logically. You should adopt an academic style, understanding that such a style requires precision but not necessarily long, polysyllabic words pulled from a thesaurus. Therefore, treat the initial draft as explanatory, one that searches for the exact word, not just long word. Every discipline has its own specialised words. A research paper may examine a subject in depth, but it also examines your knowledge and the strength of your evidence. You may need to retrace previous steps – reading, researching, and note-taking. Ask you instructor to examine the draft, not so much for line editing but for the big picture, to see if you have met the assignment and not ever-simplified the issues.

DRAFTING THE PAPER IN AN ACADEMIC STYLE (2) Be Practical 1 Write what you know and feel, not what you think somebody wants to hear. 2 Write portions of the paper when you are ready, not only when you arrive there by outline sequence. 3 If necessary, leave blank spots on the page to remind you that more evidence is required. 4 Skip entire sections if you are ready to develop later paragraphs.

DRAFTING THE PAPER IN AN ACADEMIC STYLE (3) Be Uninhabited 1 Initial drafts must be attempts to get words on the page rather than to create a polished document.. 2 Write without fear or delay. 3 Cite the names of the sources in your notes and text. 4 Enclose quotations in your notes and text. 5 Preserve the page numbers of the sources.

DRAFTING THE PAPER IN AN ACADEMIC STYLE (3) Your early draft is a time for discovery. Later, during the revision period, you can strengthen skimpy paragraphs, refine your prose, and rearrange material to maintain the momentum of your argument Begin with these tasks: 1.Focus your argument 2.Refine your thesis sentence. 3.Write a title that identifies your key terms. 4.Begin writing from your notes and outline. (For further reference, please refer to your Writing Research Papers book pp 158 – 171)