gardner12e

The Importance of Time in the Writing Process

Many students turn in poorly written papers because they skip the first step (prewriting) and the last step (rewriting/revising), and make do with the middle one (drafting). The best writing is usually done over an extended period of time, not as a last-minute task.

When planning the amount of time you’ll need to write your paper, make sure to add enough time for the unexpected. You’ll be glad you left enough time for the following:

asking your instructor for clarification on the assignment
seeking help from a librarian or from the writing center
narrowing or expanding your topic, which might require finding some new sources
balancing other assignments and commitments
dealing with technology problems