Transcript Revising
Revision Let’s fix that essay together! Question Class, what does it mean to revise your paper? Why is revision important? Revision Revision is the process of seeing the paper again, as if it were something new (re-vision). During this process, the writer looks at larger issues which affect the structure and meaning of the paper. Does the paper have a unifying main idea? Do the examples and details in the paper support this idea? Are the examples and details developed enough, or do they leave the reader to figure things out? Is there a logical connection between the supporting ideas, or do some parts of the paper seem unrelated to the rest? Is The introduction interesting? How does the conclusion work? How will the paper affect a reader? Will the reader be able to understand it? Is the language clear and concise, or is it wordy? Revising Revising your paper is not skimming a paper while watching TV or listening to a CD. Revising is focusing on many elements in your draft. What to Look For Does everything in your paper support your thesis, or have you gone off the topic? No matter how much you like a point or a sentence, if it is off the topic, you must cut it. Does one generalization follow naturally from the previous one? and lead naturally to the next generalization? Will their connection be clear to the reader? Fill in any jumps between thoughts. Have you made clear how the details are connected to a generalization? If not, connect them. What to Look For… Have you organized your material so that all your discussion of a generalization is in one place in your essay, or does the same generalization get discussed in more than one place in the essay? Combine all discussion of one generalization in one place, and cut any repetition. Have you repeated a point more than once? Have you said the same thing over and over? Are you being repetitious, as I am right now? If so, cut the repetitions. What to Look For… Is the grammar correct? For example, do the verbs and subjects agree? have you used the correct verb forms? Is the punctuation correct? For example, do you have any run-on sentences or fragments? What to Look For… Have you used the correct form of a word (e.g., believe rather than belief)? Are words spelled correctly? With spell check, there is no excuse for misspelled words. The General Idea Once you write a complete draft of your essay, you revise it--adding material, deleting material, and making corrections. You word process or handwrite a draft which incorporates all your changes and corrections. You then continue the revision process-- you revise your paper again...and then again...and then maybe revise it some more, even if you are sick of working on the paper. Revising A little--known fact among beginning writers is that revision and editing are two entirely different processes, both of which are essential to effective writing. The Skill Revision is a skill which takes some practice to develop. Each time you write, there will be different concerns, and it takes time learn what questions to ask yourself about your paper or what kinds of input will be helpful from a reader. Editing Editing is simply proofreading. When you edit, you correct problems like typos and grammatical errors; you read through the paper line by line and make simple changes. Generally, editing occurs when the paper is considered a finished product, almost ready to turn in. The Skill Editing is a matter of remembering which errors to look for. Essentially, the process is the same for every piece of writing you create, so all you really need is a good checklist. Paying attention to the kinds of errors you make most often will help you create a list which suits your needs. With practice, you may be able to internalize your list so that you no longer need to look at it as you edit. For working on larger issues Once a rough draft is finished, you should try to set it aside for at least a day and come back to the paper with a fresh mind and thus more easily catch the errors in it. You’ll bring a fresh mind to the process of polishing a paper and be ready to try some of the following strategies. Read the Paper Aloud If we read the paper aloud slowly, we have two senses--seeing AND hearing--working for us. Thus, what one sense misses, the other may pick up. Check the Thesis Statement and Organization Write down your thesis on a piece of paper if it is not directly stated in your essay. Does it accurately state your main idea? Is it in fact supported by the paper? Does it need to be changed in any way? On that piece of paper, list the main idea of each paragraph under the thesis statement. Is each paragraph relevant to the thesis? Are the paragraphs in a logical sequence or order? Remember that You are Writing for Others No matter how familiar others may be with the material, they cannot "get inside" your head and understand your approach to it unless you express yourself clearly. Therefore, it is useful to read the paper through once as you keep in mind whether or not the student or teacher or friend who will be reading it will understand what you are saying. That is, have you said exactly what you wanted to say? Check the Paper's Development Are there sufficient details? Is the logic valid? Check the Paper's Coherence and Unity Are the major points connected? Are the relationships between them expressed clearly? Do they all relate to the thesis? Review your Diction Remember that others are reading your paper and that even the choice of one word can affect their response to it. Try to anticipate their response, and choose your words accordingly. Use Active Verbs Since verbs tend to carry the meaning of your sentences, use the most precise and active ones possible. Thus, avoid constructions using the various forms of the verb "to be." Cut out wordiness Avoid Using Stretcher Phrases such as "It Is" and "There Are," Unless Needed for Emphasis Question 1 Are there any specific revision strategies you plan on using? Question 2 Share any helpful pointers about revising you may have with the class. Question 3 What are some of the major benefits of revision?