Page 127 - Aldi Lukman Nurhakim_How to Write Critical Esays: A Guide for Students of Literature

6 Presentation

Rough draft into fair copy

If time allows, you should write out your essay in a two-stage
process. First, compose a provisional, but complete, draft of all
that you intend to say. Think of this not as a ‘rough copy’ but
as a ‘working draft’. Do work at it, making additions, deletions
and corrections as you write. Add relevant ideas. Cut
obscurities and padding. Substitute clearer terms in which to
convey your meaning.
A first draft allows you to make as many alterations as
spring to mind without your being inhibited by the growing
messiness. However inelegant this version may start to look as
you cross out some words and squeeze in others, it will still be
decipherable by you; and only you need to see it.
When you have written out the last sentence of this working
draft, read it all through from the beginning. Thoughtfully
review and thoroughly revise. Try to find a friend or relative
who is prepared to listen while you read it aloud, to ask
questions where puzzled, and to offer constructive advice. At
least try reading it aloud to yourself. Then you will be able to
hear where it sounds confusing in structure or clumsy in style.
When you can find no more opportunities for improvement or
when there is simply no more time, write out the essay again as
a fair copy.
Think of the adjective ‘fair’ here as a pun. Good-looking
work may find favour. An essay which looks beautiful will not,
of course, be forgiven for talking nonsense. Yet an ugly one may
be thought to contain less sense than it in fact does.