B2 Lesson 2: Drafting Complex Texts Systematically
In the last lesson, you created a detailed outline, which is the blueprint for your essay. Now you are ready for the second stage of the writing process: writing the first draft1.
At the B2 level, drafting is a systematic2 process of converting your plan into organized paragraphs. The main goal is to get your ideas down in full sentences, focusing on flow and development. We will fix small errors later.
From Outline to Paragraph: The Drafting Process
Your outline is your guide. The drafting stage involves "fleshing out" the points from your outline with complete sentences, explanations, and transitions.
Example: Drafting a Body Paragraph
Let's take one point from the outline we created in the last lesson and turn it into a full paragraph.
Outline Point:
- A. Topic Sentence: Constant exposure to curated online lives can lead to anxiety.
- B. Evidence: Examples of people comparing their lives to others' online highlights.
- C. Explanation: Explain how this comparison leads to feeling inadequate.
↓ Becomes ↓
Draft Paragraph:
First of all, one of the most significant dangers of social media is its negative effect on mental health. Constant exposure to the carefully selected, "perfect" images of other people's lives can lead to strong feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem. For instance, when users scroll through their feeds, they often compare their own normal, everyday lives with the unrealistic highlights of others, such as luxury holidays or perfect relationships. This constant social comparison can create a persistent feeling that one's own life is not good enough, which can be very damaging to a person's sense of self-worth. Therefore, this impact on mental well-being is a serious issue.
An Advanced Tip: Draft Your Body Paragraphs First
Many experienced writers do not write an essay from beginning to end. They often write the body paragraphs first. After the main arguments are fully developed, it is much easier to write a powerful introduction that perfectly leads into them, and a strong conclusion that perfectly summarizes them.
✍️ B2 Systematic Drafting Checklist
As you write your first draft, ask yourself:
- ✔️ Am I using my outline as my guide for every paragraph?
- ✔️ Am I expanding each point from my outline into complete sentences?
- ✔️ Is each body paragraph well-developed using the P.E.E.L structure?
- ✔️ Am I focusing on the content and flow of my ideas, not on perfect grammar?
🧠 Practice Quiz: What is the Goal?
When writing a first draft from a detailed outline, what should be your primary focus?
- Making sure every word is spelled correctly.
- Developing the points from your outline into clear, connected paragraphs.
- Finding the perfect, most interesting hook for your introduction.
Answer: B. The main goal of drafting is to develop your ideas and structure. Perfect spelling (editing) and finding the perfect hook (revising) can come later in the process.
📝 Homework: Write Your First Draft
It's time to put your plan into action! In the last lesson, your homework was to create a detailed outline for one of the topics below:
- Should all university education be free? Discuss the pros and cons.
- What is the most significant environmental challenge facing Cambodia today, and what are some possible solutions?
Your Task: Using the detailed outline you already created, write the complete first draft of your 4-paragraph essay. Focus on systematically converting your outline points into well-developed paragraphs. Don't worry about making it perfect!
Vocabulary Glossary
- First Draft: (Noun) - ការព្រាងដំបូង - The first complete version of a piece of writing. ↩
- Systematically: (Adverb) - តាមប្រព័ន្ធ - According to a fixed plan or system; methodically. ↩
- To flesh out: (Verb Phrase) - ពង្រីក - To add more details to something to make it complete. ↩
- Prose: (Noun) - ពាក្យរាយ - Written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure. ↩
- Momentum: (Noun) - សន្ទុះ - The force or speed of movement; impetus. In writing, it refers to the flow of ideas.