The First Shall Be Last: Writing the Essay Backwards.

The problem with writing for most students is that they do it wrong. They do it backwards. Because writing is more often viewed as a vexation than a thinking process, students tend to dispose of writing assignments as quickly as possible. This means they prefer a one-draft run, beginning with the thesis and moving toward the end, which is why a paper whose conclusion differs from its thesis is a common sight in English classes. But such an error is instructive, providing the clue we need to reorient our students toward a successful