Planning and Drafting
Good writing begins with planning ideas, followed by drafting, revising and proofreading to improve it.
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Good writing begins with planning ideas, followed by drafting, revising and proofreading to improve it.
- Make a plan or mind map
- Draft freely then revise
- Proofread for errors
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Planning and Drafting?
Within English, which covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, poetry, drama and the skills for clear communication, this topic explains Planning and Drafting. English topics help you read closely and write with purpose, so each one here explains a skill and shows how it works in a model text.
Check that you can explain Planning and Drafting in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Planning and Drafting helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
Planning and Drafting in detail
Planning saves time and improves quality. Methods include brainstorming, spider diagrams, bullet lists and paragraph plans. Decide the purpose, audience, form and main points, and organise them in an order before writing.
Drafting means writing a first version, concentrating on getting ideas down without worrying about perfection. Leave space for revisions, and then revise by reading it through and improving structure, content and style before final proofreading. In timed exams, a quick plan of 5 minutes usually leads to a better organised answer. Writing is a process, not a one-shot effort.
How the interactive helps you understand Planning and Drafting
Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Planning and Drafting.
Real-life uses and examples
- Plan an essay paragraph by linking the technique to the reader’s response.
- Spot Planning and Drafting when you read a poem, story or speech, then explain the effect it creates.
- Use Planning and Drafting to make your own writing more precise and vivid.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Quoting a long passage instead of picking a short, precise phrase.
- Naming a technique without explaining its effect on the reader.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Planning and Drafting
What is Planning and Drafting?
Good writing begins with planning ideas, followed by drafting, revising and proofreading to improve it.
What are the most important points about Planning and Drafting?
The main points are: Make a plan or mind map; Draft freely then revise; Proofread for errors.
Why is Planning and Drafting useful?
Understanding Planning and Drafting helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
How can I practise Planning and Drafting?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Planning and Drafting?
Related topics in English include Standard English and Dialects, Speaking and Listening, Rhetorical Devices.