Lesson 7: Revising and Editing
Topics• Global vs Local Revision• Writing Reader-Based Prose• Revising the Structure• Local Revision
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Global vs Local Revision
Global RevisionsRevising for PurposeRevising the ThesisRevising the Structure
Local RevisionRevising for LanguageScrutinizing Paragraphs and Sentences
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Revising Globally before Locally
Revision is a process of re-seeing and re-conceiving.
The initial, global revision should Open things up rather than shut them down. Ask what the draft is trying to do, how well it
does it, and will it make sense to somebody else.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Writing Reader-based Prose
Reader-based papers will: Have a clear purpose.Establish why the question (and the
answer) is significant.Say one main thing.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Organizing the Paper Around a Purpose
Solidify your purpose byClarifying your research question again.Asking yourself if your sources serve your
purpose.Checking to make sure the quoted passages
are surrounded with your own voice and analysis.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Establishing Significance
Ensure your topic is significant to readers by:Raising a question they want answered.Helping them see something familiar in a
new way.Amplifying what they may already know
and care about.Moving them emotionally.Taking a surprising point of view.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Saying One Main Thing
The revision process offers another chance to revisit your thesis.Does it accurately capture what you want to
say?Is it specific enough?Is it interesting?
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Getting Reader Feedback
To guide readers’ feedback, you might use the following questions: What is the thesis? How is the paper organized? Was the organization logical? Were any parts not relevant to the thesis? What examples and types of evidence were most
convincing? What two places could use more development? Did the introduction catch your attention?
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Revising the Structure
Drafting often pushes us away from our working thesis and writing plan.
Use these steps to clarify your thesis and structure as it currently exists. Take a break. Reread your draft. Rewrite your thesis and main points in a new
space.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Using Logical Structures
Your thesis may drive you to one of the following logical structures:Thesis to proofProblem to solutionQuestion to answerComparison to contrastCause and effect, or effect and causeKnown to unknown or unknown to knownSimple to complex
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Local Revision
Local Revisions includeRevising the VoiceScrutinizing ParagraphsScrutinizing Sentences
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Revising the Voice
Reading your paper aloud to help identify the voice of the paper. Ask yourself:Is this the voice you want readers to hear? Does it sound like you? Is it appropriate for this paper?Can you identify areas where it sounds flat?Does the prose distract from what you are
trying to say?
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Scrutinizing Paragraphs
Each paragraph should present one idea and be organized around it. Break long paragraphs into shorter paragraphs. Look for minor or tangential ideas that belong
somewhere else.
Watch a video about Paragraph Unity
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Paragraph Checklist
Follow this checklist to sharpen each of your paragraphs. For each paragraph, Clarify the overall point or purpose.Advertise it in a topic sentence.Cut out what doesn’t belong.Clarify the structure.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION TWO
Scrutinizing Sentences
Follow this checklist to refine your sentences. For each sentence,Use active voice wherever possible.Replace weak verbs with strong verbs.Vary sentence length and combine
sentences.Simplify sentences by reducing clutter.Replace stock phrases with fresher
alternatives.