The Writing Process: Revising, Editing and

Proofreading

4 BASESUNITY, SUPPORT COHERENCE AND SENTENCE SKILLS!

UNITY-all materials are on the same target..same point

SUPPORT-enough specific

evidence?

COHERENCE-is the paper organzied,

transitions, tied together…DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

Sentence Skills- look for grammar errors

Evidence-support, reasons, facts, details, statistics, quote, anecdote, observation,

interview, library, RELEVANT! Unified, adequate, dramatic,

accurate,

Evidence Continued…Check…Tone, attitude,

style, avoid cliché, word choice, avoid redundancy,

wordiness, avoid slang! Use complex sentences

TRANSITIONS!-additonal signals, first of all furthermore

-space signals, next , below,-change direction, but, however, yet , in contrast

-illustration- for example, for instanceConlusion- therfore, consequently, thus , as a result,

finally

Think about…

Have an Editor’s Mindset

Revising

Editing

Proofreading

An Editor’s Mindset

Polishing rather than creating

Self Editing Issues

Give yourself some space...

...But not too much

Learn your tendencies

What are your goals?

Peer Editing Issues

Degree of help needed

Have enough time before submission

Balance criticisms with compliments

Procuring Peer Editors

Writers need readers

Good editors are worth their weight in gold

Don’t abuse them; give them your best work

Layers of Effective Writing

Content

Organization

Style

Appearance

Rewriting

Revising

Editing

Proofreading

Revising For Organization

Moving around and adding/removing major pieces of text

This is an important aspect

Hard, but rewarding

Don’t Forget:Elements of the Essay

Thesis Statement/Hypothesis/Objectives

Introduction/Body/Conclusion

Topic Sentences for each paragraph

Logical Flow

Linear process: A → B → C → D

Does the content build on itself?

Audience Appropriateness

Will the content be clear for the intended audience?

Editing for Style

Micro-logical aspects of the text…is it logical?

Is this readable?

What style is appropriate?

Do the sentences flow?

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

More General Editing Tips

Read aloud

Hard copy vs. Electronic (edit with red pen)

Tracking changes

Proofreading

Grammar, spelling, formatting

Spellcheck and grammar check are not enough

Read each word and sentence carefully

Proofreading Yourself

Best results when rested

Learn your common mistakes

General Proofreading Tips

Read aloud

Watch every comma (and other punctuation)

WRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE END!