The best approach to take when preparing to write the rough draft of your essay is to plan out the main ideas and details before writing your rough draft.
Planning is a crucial step in the writing process because it helps to organize your thoughts and ensures that your essay has a clear structure. By outlining the main ideas, you can create a roadmap for your essay, making it easier to develop a coherent argument or narrative. Including details in your planning phase allows you to back up your main ideas with evidence, examples, or explanations, which enhances the persuasiveness and depth of your writing.
While it's important to be mindful of spelling and grammar, these concerns are typically addressed during the revision process rather than in the initial stages of drafting. Additionally, letting your ideas take shape as you write can be a valuable exercise for some writers, but having a structured plan usually leads to a more focused and organized essay. Therefore, planning out both the main ideas and supporting details provides the strongest foundation for a successful rough draft.