C. Writing Final Draft of Informative Paragraph (15 minutes)


Given how much work you have put into your research paper, you will want to check for any errors that could distract or confuse your readers. Using the spell checking feature in your word processing program can be helpful, it should not replace a full, careful review of your document. Be sure to check for any errors that may have come up frequently for you in the past. Use Checklist 12.4: Editing Your Writing to help you as you edit.


A conclusion that does not correspond to the rest of your essay, has loose ends, or is unorganized can unsettle your readers and raise doubts about the entire essay. However, if you have worked hard to write the introduction and body, your conclusion can often be the most logical part to compose.

It is not unusual to want to rush when you approach your conclusion, and even experienced writers may run out of energy. But what good writers remember is that it is vital to put just as much attention into the conclusion as in the rest of the essay. After all, a hasty ending can undermine an otherwise strong essay.

Even if you don't own a computer, I recommend buying Final Draft.

Ever watch and dance along to Sweating to the Oldies on a VHS? Drive along a running path watching a car’s odometer to figure out the length of a usual route? Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and the digital age has revolutionized the way people exercise, especially outside of gyms and recorded programs. In today’s rapidly evolving world of digital technology, consumers are bombarded with endless options for how they do most everything, from buying and reading books to taking photographs. In a society that is obsessed with digital means of doing everything, it is easy for the average person to become baffled. Everyone wants the newest and best digital technology for their purposes, but the choices are many and the specifications are often confusing, especially when it comes to exercise.

In the nonessential example, the fact that the coat was warm was probably more important than that the coat was blue. The information that the coat is blue probably would not make a difference in keeping the person warm, so the information in that relative clause is not terribly important. Adding the comma before the clause tells the reader it is extra information. In the essential example, the use of the same clause without a preceding comma shows that this information is important. The writer is implying he has other coats that are not as warm and are not blue, so he is emphasizing the importance of the blue coat. These are the only five subordinators, or relative pronouns, for which you can do this; every other one needs to follow the previous explanation of how to use these dependent transition words. If you do decide to add a comma with one of the relative pronouns, you need to think critically about whether or not that description is completely essential.

Earlier in this section we followed Mariah as she moved through the writing process. In this section, Mariah writes her introduction and conclusion for the same essay on media. Mariah incorporates some of the introductory elements into her introductory paragraph, which she previously outlined. Her thesis statement is underlined.

Immediately capturing your readers’ interest increases the chances of having them read what you are about to discuss. You can garner curiosity for your essay in a number of ways. Try to get your readers personally involved by doing any of the following:


Reflective Writing and the Revision Process: What Were You Thinking?

A scene in a screenplay is composed of action and dialogue. Action tells you what is happening in the scene, and dialogue indicates what each character is saying. After you write your scene heading, you should always start with a few lines of action to get the reader situated in your story. For example:

Do WAVE for your first essay before emailing your final draft.

As Jorge reread his draft, he looked to see how the different pieces fit together to prove his thesis. He realized that some of his supporting information needed to be integrated more carefully and decided to omit some details entirely. Read the following paragraph, first without Jorge’s revisions and then with them.

With the help of Checklist 12.4, edit and proofread your essay.

One likely reason for these lackluster long-term results is that a low-carbohydrate diet – like any restrictive diet – is difficult to adhere to for any extended period. In commenting on the Gardner study, experts at Harvard School of Public Health (2010) noted that women in all four diet groups had difficulty following the plan. Because it is hard for dieters to stick to a low-carbohydrate eating plan, the initial success of these diets is short-lived (Heinz, 2009). Medical professionals caution that low-carbohydrate diets are difficult for many people to follow consistently and that, in to maintain a healthy weight, dieters should try to develop nutrition and exercise habits they can incorporate into their lives in the long term (Mayo Clinic, 2008). “For some people, (low-carbohydrate diets) are great, but for most, any sensible eating and exercise plan would work just as well” .

With the help of Checklist 12.5, edit and proofread your essay.

As Jorge reread his draft, he looked to see how the different pieces fit together to prove his thesis. He realized that some of his supporting information needed to be integrated more carefully and decided to omit some details entirely. Read the following paragraph, first without Jorge’s revisions and then with them.

First Draft vs. Final Draft - Medium

Next we move on to dialogue. Dialogue is indented and is close to the center of the page. Final Draft sets the proper indents for you – the left indent is between an inch and one-and-a-half inches from the left margin, and a right indent of about an inch and a half.