Rascunho vs. esboço
While both rascunho and esboço can be translated as "draft", they represent different stages or types of preliminary work. Generally, rascunho implies a rough, messy first attempt often intended for correction or rewriting, whereas esboço suggests a structural outline, a plan, or an artistic sketch defining the main shapes or ideas.
Rascunho
B1This word refers to a rough copy or a first version of a written document. It implies a lack of polish, often containing obstacles, crossed-out words, or incomplete thoughts. A rascunho is meant to be edited or rewritten into a final clean version.
O aluno fez um rascunho da redação antes de passar o texto para a folha oficial.
(The student made a rough draft of the essay before transferring the text to the official sheet.)
Não envie esse email ainda, salve como rascunho para lermos amanhã.
(Do not send that email yet, save it as a draft for us to read tomorrow.)
Minha mesa está cheia de papel de rascunho.
(My desk is full of scrap paper.)
Este é apenas um rascunho inicial, então perdoe os erros de gramática.
(This is just an initial rough draft, so please forgive the grammar mistakes.)
Esboço
B2This word focuses on the structure, contour, or general plan of a work. In writing, it acts as an outline or skeleton of the main points. In art and design, it refers to a preliminary sketch showing the shape of things without the fine details.
Antes de começar a escrever o livro, ela criou um esboço com os títulos dos capítulos.
(Before starting to write the book, she created an outline with the chapter titles.)
O arquiteto desenhou um esboço da casa em um guardanapo.
(The architect drew a sketch of the house on a napkin.)
Este documento traz um esboço das nossas metas para o próximo ano.
(This document brings an outline of our goals for next year.)
Ele fez um esboço rápido da paisagem usando carvão.
(He made a quick sketch of the landscape using charcoal.)
Summary
To choose the correct word, consider the state of the document. Use rascunho for a rough, unpolished version meant for editing (a rough draft). Use esboço for a structural plan, skeleton, or visual guide (an outline or sketch).