Writing Introductions, Conclusions, and Body Paragraphs
Drafting the Essay
Nearly every writer has turned on his or her computer to begin writing and experienced the terror of the blank screen. Indeed, getting the first few words and sentences out can be the most difficult stage of writing. Remember, few writers, if any, can create polished, complete prose in their first draft. Most good writers instead produce a document that contains errors, rough points, and incomplete sections. Despite its flaws, this becomes the basis for thoughtful revision and a final draft.
Keep this in mind. If you have researched and read with purpose and taken good notes throughout the process, you should be able to write your draft using your outline and your notes. Developing a thesis early, pre-writing, researching with purpose, and making an outline all make writing the draft easier. You have done much of your hard thinking and organizing by the time you start to compose sentences and paragraph. You can put your energy into composing without wondering where you're going, how you're going to get there, and where the information is that you need.
If you feel stuck on one particular section, move on; you can fill in any gaps later. If you don’t know how to word a complex or delicate issue, simply sketch your idea in rough terms; you can refine your wording during revision. Though not perfect, your draft provides a vital starting point from which to develop and refine your writing.