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
introduction and
conclusion.
Write first draft of main
points using
body from notes.
paraphrasing and
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.