Drafting Checklist
A first draft is not a smaller version of the final product. It is a full attempt that lets you find out what is working.
Success criteria
- I can build a complete draft, not a collection of unfinished sections.
- I can check my content against the task requirements.
- I can check my design against the audience and purpose.
- I can identify the three most important revisions before the next lesson.
Before you draft
- My focused issue is one sentence, not a broad topic.
- My audience is specific.
- My purpose statement is complete.
- I have at least three credible sources.
- I have a source table with claim, evidence, and purpose.
- I know which structure I am using.
- I have a rough layout sketch.
Content requirements
- The issue is clearly linked to the documentary studied in class.
- At least two causes are explained.
- At least two impacts are explained, including one environmental impact.
- At least two solutions are explained.
- Every statistic has a source and a date.
- I have not invented or guessed any data.
- The content is accurate and uses appropriate sustainability vocabulary.
- I have not copied sentences from a source without quotation marks.
Design requirements
- The title makes the main claim or question visible.
- A standfirst explains the issue and why it matters.
- There is one clear focal point.
- The reading path is obvious without arrows everywhere.
- Related items are grouped; unrelated items are separated.
- There is enough white space to rest the eye.
- Type is consistent: no more than two typefaces.
- Body text is readable at arm's length and on a phone.
- Colour has a purpose and contrast is sufficient.
- Icons come from one family and unfamiliar ones are labelled.
- The source line and call to action are easy to find.
Accessibility and ethics
- Text has at least 4.5:1 contrast against the background.
- Colour is not the only way meaning is shown.
- Images have a purpose and are not used without permission.
- I have not used AI-generated text, images, or data.
- The infographic does not stereotype people or places.
- The call to action is realistic and does not shame the audience.
Three-session production plan
Session 1 - Build the content skeleton
Place the title, standfirst, section headings, and source line. Add the main claim and the call to action. Do not decorate yet.
Session 2 - Add evidence and visuals
Add the data display, icons, and captions. Check that every visual supports a specific idea. Remove anything that only fills space.
Session 3 - Refine and test
Apply the three-second, squint, and thumb tests. Fix hierarchy, contrast, and alignment. Check the source line and export a test file.
Draft review
| Question | Evidence in my draft | Revision needed |
|---|---|---|
| What does the viewer notice first? | ||
| What is the main message in one sentence? | ||
| Where does the eye go next? | ||
| Which section is weakest? | ||
| Which source is least credible? | ||
| What will I change before the next lesson? |
Export check
- The file opens on another device.
- Text is not cut off at the edges.
- Images are not pixelated.
- The file is a format the teacher can open.
- The file name includes my name and class.
- I have a backup copy.
Conditions: your teacher will set the time allowed and the class time for writing the rationale. Check your school's policy on AI before you start, and follow it exactly.
Exit ticket
Name the one change that will most improve your draft. Explain how it helps the audience understand the issue, not just how it makes the page look.