The Writing Process: Revising, Editing and Proofreading and Essay types

Layers of Effective Writing

-Content -Organization -Style -Appearance -Rewriting -Revising -Editing -Proofreading

Editing for Style

-Micro-logical aspects of the text...is it logical? -Is this readable? -What style is appropriate? -Do the sentences flow?

Elements of the Essay

-Thesis Statement/Hypothesis/Objectives -Introduction/Body/Conclusion -Topic Sentences for each paragraph

Sentence Skills

- Look for grammar errors- Ensure syntax is correct

Support

enough specific evidence?

Peer-Review

•It is important to make the peer review process useful. •Basics of useful feedback: •It is given in a positive way •It is specific •It offers suggestions •It is given both verbally and in writing

Editing Strategies

•Keep an Error Log to help you identify your problem areas and improve your writing. This would be something to help you grow personally as a writer. •When editing, review your paper for one type of error at a time; don't try to read through looking for everything at once.

Revising

•Revising is finding & correcting problems with content; changing the ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more convincing. •Revising looks at the "Big Picture"—the Idea level.

Evidence Continued

Check...Tone, attitude, style, avoid cliché, word choice, avoid redundancy, wordiness, avoid slang! Use complex sentences

Proofreading

Grammar, spelling, formatting Spellcheck and grammar check are not enough Read each word and sentence carefully

Think about

Have an Editor's Mindset Revising Editing Proofreading

Clarity

If it can be misinterpreted, it is wrong Make changes to vague, absolute, misleading, and commonly misinterpreted words

Conciseness

If words or phrases can be removed while maintaining meaning, do it Change passive voice, negative form, and nominative case

Logical Flow

Linear process: A → B → C → D Does the content build on itself?

Unity

all materials are on the same target. Same point

Coherence

is the paper organized, transitions, tied together...DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

Revision Tips

•Take a break from your draft before attempting to revise. •Read your draft out loud and listen to your words. •Imagine yourself as your reader. •Look for consistent problem areas. •Get feedback from peers. Get help from group member!

Editing Tips

•Work with a clean printed copy, 1.5 spaced to allow room to mark corrections. •Read your essay backwards. •Be cautious of spell-check and grammar-check. USE A DICTIONARY/WRITE SOURCE. •Read your essay out loud. •Get feedback from peers. Work with a group member!

Self-Review

•You should never move to peer review without first completing a self-review (revising & editing); you want your peer to look for mistakes that you were unable to catch yourself! •After you have reviewed your own work, make the necessary corrections and print a clean, revised copy before moving on to peer review.

Evidence

support, reasons, facts, details, statistics, quote, anecdote, observation, interview, library, RELEVANT! Unified, adequate, dramatic, accurate,

Revision Process A.R.M.S

•Add words, phrases or more information to help make your points clear and easy for the reader to understand. Add transition words, phrases or sentences to tie your thoughts and paragraphs together. •Remove words that repeat themselves and information that does not relate to the main idea of your paragraph or to the topic of the composition. •Move around words, phrases, sentences or even whole paragraphs in order to keep your ideas clear and flowing toward a logical conclusion. •Substitute words with more exact words or phrases that express what you want to say more clearly.

Editing

•Editing is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and punctuation. •Editing focuses on the "Little Picture"—Word level.

Procuring Peer Editors

Writers need readers Good editors are worth their weight in gold Don't abuse them; give them your best work

Revision Strategies

-Unity •Does everything refer back to main point? •Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis? •Does each sentence in each body paragraph refer back to the topic sentence? -Detail and support •Does each body paragraph contain at least two examples? •Is each example followed by at least one supporting detail? -Coherence •Are all points connect to form a whole? •Are transitions used to move from one idea to the next?

Revising For Organization

Moving around and adding/removing major pieces of text This is an important aspect Hard, but rewarding

Editor's Mindset

Polishing rather than creating

More General Editing Tips

Read aloud Hard copy vs. Electronic (edit with red pen) Tracking changes

General Proofreading Tips

Read aloud Watch every comma (and other punctuation)

Audience Appropriateness

Will the content be clear for the intended audience?

TRANSITIONS

Words or phrases used to connect ideas together -additional signals, first of all, furthermore -space signals, next , below,-change direction, but, however, yet , in contrast -illustration- for example, for instance -Conclusion- therefore, consequently, thus , as a result, finally