Transcript Using Ratiocination to Revise Writing

Using Ratiocination to Revise
Writing
Ratiocination
Ratiocination is the process of exact thinking. We
will REVISE AND EDIT our rough drafts using this
PROCESS.
Step 1a.
Circle ALL the linking and helping verbs in the essay.
Contractions count, too. (Isn’t, Wasn’t, etc.)
*Am
*Had
*Is
*Have
*Are
*Has
*Was
*Could
*Were
*Should
*Be
*Would
*Being
*Can
*Been
*Will
These are weak verbs. As often as possible, use action verbs to
make your writing more alive. How many weak verbs do you
have? Write that number at the top of your paper.
Step 1b.
*Revise your paper as much as possible WITHOUT
weak verbs. Reduce the number of them by half.
*Using a pen, write the strong verb above the “to
be verb” you are replacing.
Example:
lugged
I had a heavy bag on my back.
Step 2.
1. [Bracket] the first word in every sentence.
This shows whether you are beginning too many
sentences the same way.
2. Change at least three sentences.
3. You can start the sentence with a prepositional or an
introductory phrase.
Example:
[I ] hated going camping in the woods during the
summer. [I] packed my clothes with little effort.
During the summer, I hated going camping. With little
effort, I packed my clothes.
Step 3.
1. Revise your writing for repetitions.
2. With a colored pencil, draw a wavy line
beneath words that have been repeated
(three times or more).
3. Reward the sentence by using synonyms
to replace these repetitions.
Step 4a
Use two alternating colors to underline each sentence.
This will help you to do two things:
1. Check if your sentence lengths are varied.
*You need a combination of long and short sentences.
*Too many short sentences will prevent your sentence
from flowing.
*Too many long sentences can confuse the reader.
Step 4b
2. Find RUN-ONS and FRAGMENTS
a. Correct any of these mistakes.
A run-on sentence is when you put several sentences
together with an incorrect or no punctuation.
Ex. The rain was pouring, it came down in huge drops.
The rain was pouring it came down in huge drops.
A fragment is not a complete thought and needs a subject
and a predicate.
Ex. As we walked to the park on the weekend.
Because we were late for the party. (dependent clause)
Step 5.
1. Revise your vocabulary to more specific,
detailed words.
2. Use a yellow highlighter to highlight all plain
words such as: very, got, get, nice, bad, thing,
good, stuff, awesome, wonderful and so.
3. Try to use more vivid words in their place; write
the new words above the highlighted words you
will replace.
Step 6
1. Whenever you describe something by comparing it with
something else, you are using figurative language. This makes your
writing more interesting.
2. Improve your writing by including similes and metaphors.
3. Similes: Choose a word in your writing and compare it with
something else using the words “like” or “as. Write the new sentence
in the margin.
Example: My sadness was as unending as the ocean.
4. Metaphor: Choose an idea in your writing and describe it by
stating that it is/was something else. Do not use the words “like” or
“as. Write the new sentence in the margin.
Example: Brian was a wall, stopping every soccer ball from blasting
into the net.