The Writer’s World: Paragraphs and Essaysstudent.allied.edu/uploadedfiles/Docs/e312ce0f-98f5-4584-9586-4b6a...To check for unity, ... make a list of unfamiliar words and their definitions

PA RT I: THE WRITING PROCESS

CHA PTER 3: REVISING A ND EDITING

Instructor’s Resource Manual

The Writer’s World: Paragraphs and Essays Second Edition

Copyright © 2009 Prentice Hall

Chapter 3: Revising and Editing What is Revising and Editing?

What is Revising and Editing?

After you have written the first draft of your paragraph, the next step in the writing process is to revise and edit your work.

When you revise, you modify your writing to make it stronger and more convincing. You do this by reading your first draft critically, looking for faulty logic, poor organization, or poor sentence style.

Then you reorganize and rewrite it, making any necessary changes. When you edit, you proofread your final draft for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics.


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There are five key steps to follow during the revising and editing stage:

STEP 1: Revise for unity. Ensure that all parts of your work relate to the main idea.

STEP 2: Revise for adequate support. Determine that your details effectively support the main idea.

STEP 3: Revise for coherence. Verify that your ideas flow smoothly and logically.

STEP 4: Revise for style. Ensure that your sentences are varied and interesting.

STEP 5: Edit for technical errors. Proofread your work and correct errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Revise for Unity

Revise for Unity

Unity means that all of the sentences in a paragraph support the topic sentence.

If a paragraph lacks unity, then some sentences drift from the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.

To check for unity, ensure that every sentence in the body of the paragraph relates to one main idea.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Revise for Adequate Support

Revise for Adequate Support

A paragraph has adequate support when there are enough details and examples to make it strong, convincing, and interesting.

Avoid circular reasoning—the paragraph restates its main point in different ways but does not provide enough supporting details.


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Avoid Circular Reasoning

Circular reasoning means that a paragraph restates its main point in various ways but does not provide supporting details.

The main idea goes in circles and never progresses.

Avoid using circular reasoning by providing a clear, concise topic sentence and by supporting the topic sentence with facts, examples, statistics, or anecdotes.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Revise for Coherence

Revise for Coherence

A paragraph should flow smoothly and be logically organized to accomplish coherence.

Use transitional expressions to create coherence. They can link words or phrases.

On the following slides are transitional words or expressions and their function:


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Transitional Words or Expressions and Their Function


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Transitional Words or Expressions and Their Function


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Revise for Style

Hint: Use Transitional Expressions with Complete Sentences

When you add a transitional expression to a sentence, ensure that your sentence is complete. Your sentence must have a subject and a verb, and it must express a complete thought.

Incomplete: For example, the rules posted on the wall.

Complete: For example, the rules were posted on the wall.


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Revise for Style

A paragraph should have concise, academic-appropriate vocabulary and sentence variety to accomplish a reasonable style.

Ask yourself the following style-related questions:

1. Have I used a variety of sentence patterns?

2. Have I used exact language?

3. Have I written sentences that are parallel in structure?


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Hint: Adding Strong Support

When you revise, look at the strength of your supporting details. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are my supporting details interesting, and do they grab the reader’s attention? Should I use more vivid words?

2. Is my concluding sentence appealing? Could I end the paragraph in a more interesting way?


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Edit for Errors

Edit for Errors

When you edit for errors, check your writing and make sure that it is free of errors. Focus on language, and look for mistakes in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.

Editing Tips:

Put your writing aside for a day or two before you do the editing.

Begin your proofreading at any stage of the writing process.

Keep a list of your common errors in a separate grammar log. When you finish a writing assignment, consult your error list, and make sure that you have not repeated any of those errors.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Edit for Errors

Hint: Offer Constructive Criticism

When you peer-edit someone else’s writing, try to make your comments useful. Phrase your comments in a positive way. Look at these examples.

Instead of saying . . . You could say . . .

1. Your sentences are boring. Maybe you could combine some sentences.

2. Your supporting ideas are weak. You could add more details here.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Peer Feedback Form

Peer Feedback Form

Written by: ___________ Feedback by: ___________________

Date: ________________________

1. What is the main point of the written work?

2. What details effectively support the topic sentence?

3. What, if anything, is unclear or unnecessary?

4. Give some suggestions about how the work could be improved.

5. What is an interesting or unique feature of this written work?


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Write the Final Draft

Write the Final Draft

When you have finished making revisions, you are ready to write the final draft.

Before you give the final draft to your instructor, proofread and try reading your writing aloud again.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Write the Final Draft

Hint: Spelling, Grammar, and Vocabulary Logs

Keep a spelling and grammar log. You probably repeat, over and over, the same types of grammar and spelling errors. You will find it very useful to record your repeated grammar mistakes in a spelling and grammar log. You can refer to your list of spelling and grammar mistakes when you revise and edit your writing.

Keep a vocabulary log. Expanding your vocabulary will be of enormous benefit to you as a writer. In a vocabulary log, you can make a list of unfamiliar words and their definitions.


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Revising and Editing Checklist

Revising and Editing Checklist

When you revise and edit, ask yourself the following questions:

Unity

1. Is my paragraph unified under a single topic?

2. Does each paragraph relate to the topic sentence?

Support

1. Does my paragraph have an adequate number of supporting details?


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Chapter 3: Revising and Editing Revising and Editing Checklist

Coherence

1. Is my paragraph logically organized?

2. Do I use transitional words or expressions to help the paragraph flow smoothly?


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Documents

The Writer’s World: Paragraphs and Essaysstudent.allied.edu/uploadedfiles/Docs/e312ce0f-98f5-4584-9586-4b6a...To check for unity, ... make a list of unfamiliar words and their definitions