Text Production: Planning, Drafting and Editing
The three stages
Planning: decide the topic, the purpose and the reader. Make a short plan with an introduction, a middle and a conclusion. Note the key ideas in order. Drafting: write in full sentences, keep one main idea per paragraph, and use linking words (първо, после, затова, обаче). Editing: check spelling, punctuation, agreement, repetition and word order. Read the text aloud to catch errors.
What examiners reward
- A clear structure with a visible beginning and end.
- Relevance: every sentence supports the topic.
- Correct paragraphing.
- Appropriate vocabulary and varied sentence length.
- Correct use of direct speech if a dialogue is required.
Traps
- Starting to write without a plan and running out of ideas.
- Mixing several topics in one paragraph.
- Forgetting capital letters at the start of sentences and for names.
- Leaving the text without a conclusion.
- Not leaving time to revise.
Rule of thumb
Spend about one fifth of your time planning, three fifths writing, and one fifth checking. When editing, read backwards sentence by sentence - this makes errors easier to spot.
Worked example
Task: describe your favourite season. A weak draft lists many unrelated facts. A strong plan is: (1) name the season and why; (2) two details about nature; (3) what you do then; (4) a closing sentence. Each part becomes one short paragraph, joined by защото, а също, накрая.