lesson 7: revising and editing

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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?


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?


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.


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


Local Revision

Local Revisions includeRevising the VoiceScrutinizing ParagraphsScrutinizing Sentences


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?


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

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/alt/comp/wia_video/RevisingforParagraphUnityc04.mov


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.


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.

lesson 7: revising and editing

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