Transcript Ratiocination - Cloudfront.net

Revising your paper with
Ratiocination
Ratiocination: Step 1
Circle every “to be” verb you can find in
your paper.
What are “be” verbs?
Be, being, been, am, are, was, were, is
When you are finished, count the number
of “be” verbs and write the number at the
top of your paper.
When revising, cut this number in half!
Ratiocination: Step 2
 Underline every other sentence in your paper.
 Then, go back and underline the other sentences with a
different color.
 Every sentence in your paper should be underlined in
alternating colors.
 Evaluate your sentence lengths. Are they all short? All
long? Are there any really short ones that may be
fragments? Any long ones that may be run-ons? Mark
ones that (may) need to be changed.
 Make changes when you revise so the pattern of
sentence length varies.
 Same rhythm = lulling the reader to inattention.
 This is where knowing the sentence types helps!
Ratiocination: Step 3
 Using just one color, draw a box around the first
word of every sentence in your paper.
 In the margin on the left, make a list of your first
words.
 Are there any patterns? Are there several that
start with the same word?
 When you revise, change some up so you have
a variety. Otherwise, it’ll seem like a list.
Ratiocination: Step 4
Find the bland words in your writing and
cross them out.
What words are “bland”?
Very, got, get, stuff, kind of, sort of, really,
maybe, well.
What others can you think of/did you find?
When revising, replace them with more
vivid words.
Ratiocination: Step 5
Put the word it in a triangle.
What does it refer to in your sentence? Is
it clear to the reader?
If not, change it to a specific noun.
Ratiocination: Step 6
Quickly trade your paper with someone
close to you.
Read each paragraph.
In the margins, paraphrase the paragraph
in one sentence.
For the introduction, underline your
partner’s thesis.
Final Draft Reminders
Include the proper header in the upper left-hand
corner (your name, teacher, class, date)
Include a title
 If you are hand writing  If you are typing the
final draft:
the final draft:
Use black or blue pen
Skip lines
Only write on the front
of the page (if you don’t
mind)
Use black ink
Double space