GE 117 Composition I

Week 4 – Principles of Revision and Proofreading

REVISION IS THE HEART OF THE WRITING PROCESS!!!!!!

Week 3 Review

Last week we discussed the role of a Paragraph in the writing process.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of writing. All effective writing is built upon paragraph development.

A paragraph is defined by what it does, what it looks like.

Week 3 Review

A Paragraph is organized around a central idea. This idea is usually expressed via a Topic Sentence.

The rest of the Paragraph is arranged by a specific form of organization.

Common Organizational Patterns include Simple-Complex, Chronological, Spatial, and Emphatic.

Week 3 Review

Homework Assignment : A Childhood Memory.

One Paragraph of 8-12 sentences on a Childhood Memory.

Make use of specific details. Make use of a specific Organizational

Pattern.

Week 4 ObjectivesLike, What’s happening today?

Describe and use the stages and principles of Revision in the Writing Process

Review Editing and Proofreading techniques to reduce the frequency of typos.

Utilize and practice navigating electronic sources of information, including the Internet and the Virtual Library

Week 4 - Revision

Q: What is the difference between revising, editing, and proofreading?

A: Revision is about adding, subtracting, reshaping or reforming a First Draft.

Editing is about correcting syntax, grammar, and mechanics.

Proofreading is about finding and fixing spelling mistakes, homonyms, and typos.

Week 4 - Revision

There are generally 3 stages you move through as you attempt to Revise a rough draft:

Stage 1: Revise for Overall Meaning

Stage 2: Revise for Paragraph development

Stage 3: Revise for Sentences and Words

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Overall Meaning

Stage 1 of Revision requires you to look at the “Big Picture.” Sometimes it helps to give yourself time away from your draft.

You should compare your draft to your initial planning/prewriting—save multiple files.

You should ask yourself some key questions (see pages 98-99 in Longman Writer)

Week 4 - Revision

How well did you meet your intended objective(s)?

How appropriate was your tone and diction?

How well did you address the needs/expectations of your audience?

According to what organizational method is your draft structured?

What are the main ideas of the essay?

Week 4 - Revison

Revising for Overall Meaning is similar to the first stage of home renovation – you must pay attention to the large scale structures first (foundation, framing, etc), before moving on to any smaller scale.

Otherwise, your essay might be like a poorly built house - perhaps pretty to look at, but unstable and unsuitable to live in.

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Paragraph Development

Once you have paid attention to Overall Meaning, you should move through each individual paragraph, one by one.

This is similar to fixing things in a home floor by floor, once we are sure the Overall Structure and Foundation are solid.

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Paragraph Development

As you move from each paragraph to the next, many of the questions you asked in Stage 1 reappear and some new ones emerge.

See pages 100-101 in Longman Writer.

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Paragraph Development

Do all Paragraphs support the essay’s Thesis (Main Idea) or do any contradict/undermine?

How is each Paragraph organized? Does the Pattern make sense?

What is each Paragraph’s Main Idea? Is there a Topic Sentence?

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Paragraph Development

Does each Paragraph make use of specific details, ideas, examples, or are some vague/unspecific?

How are the Paragraphs sequenced in the essay? Does the Pattern make sense?

Is there an Introduction and Conclusion Paragraph?

Week 4 Revision

Revising for Sentences and Words

The last scale of Revision is the smallest – we focus on sentence and words last. This stage of Revision is liking making aesthetic improvements to a house – paint, tiles, carpets, etc. But it must always come last! You don’t paint a wall or a door that might get knocked down!

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Sentences and Words

After moving through your individual paragraphs (or while you move through them), you can choose to “sharpen” individual sentences and words to make your overall essay a better product.

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Sentences and Words

At this smallest scale, you should focus on some common concerns (see page 118 in Longman Writer).

Having your prewriting and planning available will help you compare what you’ve got on paper with what you “wanted” to write.

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Sentences and Words

Tone – Compared to your planning, how is your Tone and Diction? Do any words or sentences not “fit in?”

Economy – Have you used as few words as necessary to express your ideas, or do you find yourself using far more than necessary? Remember: Brevity is King/Queen

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Sentences and Words

Type Variety – Good writers will use a variety of Sentence Types- Simple, Compound, and Complex. Avoid using only 1 sentence type. (See pages 109-113 in Longman Writer.) Yo Teach, Whaddya mean?

Length and Tempo – Good writers mix and match different sentence lengths to ensure a readable rhythm. Baldwin uses long and short sentences. Spice it up.

Week 4 - Revision

Revising for Sentences and Words Specific – Do sentences use real, genuine

examples/ideas, or are they vague/general?

Active – For the most part, do sentences use Action Verbs, or Passive Verbs (to be, to seem, to feel, etc.) Good writing is full of Action, not Being!

Week 4 - Revision

Editing and Proofreading

After you have moved through the 3 stages of revision, you should focus on Editing and Proofreading.

Editing is concerned with syntax and grammar, while Proofreading is concerned with spelling mistakes and typos.

Week 4 - Revision

Editing and Proofreading

Here are some useful tips:

1) Put your draft away for at least 24 hours. You can’t find your mistakes right after you’ve written something.

2) Get feedback! Always have a second pair of eyes look for mistakes you won’t (or can’t) be able to find.

Week 4 -Revision

Editing and Proofreading3) Always work from typed text, with margins

and double spacing. It makes reading easier, and allows corrections to be clear and visible. I also recommend printing out a copy—certain errors are hard to spot on a computer screen.

4) Read your draft aloud. Your mind “skips over” mistakes your voice would stumble upon. Mistakes are more clear when you read aloud.

Week 4 - Revision

Editing and Proofreading

5) Use (but never rely on) Grammar and Spell Checkers. All word processing software has them, but they can’t catch everything.

6) Know thyself. If you are bad at spelling (or grammar, punctuation, etc) admit it, allocate more time to check your work, and have good spellers help you!

Week 4 - Revision

Editing and Proofreading7) Be aware of commonly misspelled words

and homonyms (words that sound alike but are spelled differently) such as They’re, Their, There, and Where, wear, were. They account for a large percentage of all errors.

8) Become familiar with Proofreader Marks (see page 136 in Longman Writer) that are commonly used.

Week 4 - Revision

Editing and Proofreading9) Pay attention to detail. When you have

many small mistakes, they often speak volumes more about you (and your work ethic) than one large mistake would.

10) Strive to improve. Be honest, know your weak areas, and always try to get better. Some of the world’s best writers were also the worst spellers! But they improved!

Week 4 - Revision

Homework Assignment

course project part I

Reading: