Tips for Editing an Essay

Learning Assistance & Tutorial CenterMission College

To view this presentation, click your space bar or

arrow keys.

What is editing?

It is important to distinguish editing from writing:– Writing is the creation and arrangement of your ideas.– Editing is the review and modification of your ideas to make

them stronger and more effective.

Example of sentence editing:

Original sentence: Chemistry is something you have to use in metal finishing so you can make sure the quality of what you’re doing is good.

Use of 2nd person sounds weaker.

Sounds more professional and powerful, doesn’t it?

Edited sentence: Chemistry is important to metal finishers to ensure the quality control of processes.

What is editing?

Editing is the last of the 3 steps of writing an essay. It follows planning and writing. It is a long process; you should budget about 25% of your time towards it.

15%

60%25% planning

writing

editing

When and how should I edit?

Begin editing after– you have finished your rough draft. – you have all of your main points and details in

complete sentences.

Edit by going over your essay at least three times, with three different approaches…

Three different approaches in editing

1. Make sure it accurately follows the instructor’s assignment and specifications (analyze, describe, compare/contrast, etc.)

2. Review from the beginning to the end for “Big Picture” issues

3. Review from the end to the beginning for “Smaller Picture” issues

Approach 1: Following the Assignment

Make sure it accurately follows the instructor’s assignment and specifications– Look at the “operative” words such as analyze,

compare and contrast, describe, argue, etc. – Make sure your language and organization follow

that assignment pattern• Did you describe when you should have analyzed?• Did you compare when you should have argued?

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopicLength and developmentLogic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awarenessEssay structureOrganization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

Thesis: clear? Consistent? Powerfully written?TopicLength and developmentLogic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awarenessEssay structureOrganization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopic: follows assignment? Focused?Length and developmentLogic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awarenessEssay structureOrganization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopicLength and development: long enough? Well-supported?Logic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awarenessEssay structureOrganization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopicLength and developmentLogic and critical thinking: believable? Avoids generalization and stereotypes?Voice and audience awarenessEssay structureOrganization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopicLength and developmentLogic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awareness: appealing tone? Avoids slang? Explains special terms?Essay structureOrganization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopicLength and developmentLogic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awarenessEssay structure: effective title? Introduction appealing, not misleading? Conclusion satisfying?Organization

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues

ThesisTopicLength and developmentLogic and critical thinkingVoice and audience awarenessEssay structureOrganization: correct paragraphing? Smooth transitions? Follows a logical process?

If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence stylediction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problems: subject/verb or pronounpronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence stylediction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problems: subject/verb or pronounpronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence stylediction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shifts: tense shifts, verb ending problems, or person/number shiftssentence boundariessentence stylediction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundaries: run-ons, fragments, comma splicessentence stylediction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence style: variety of sentence typesdiction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence style: variety of sentence typesdiction and word choice: confusing words with similar spellings or sounds, etc.punctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence style: variety of sentence typesdiction and word choicepunctuation and mechanics: commas, semi-colons, apostrophes, capitalization, etc.use of sources and citations/works cited page

Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues

agreement problemspronoun case and reference problemsincorrect shiftssentence boundariessentence style: variety of sentence typesdiction and word choicepunctuation and mechanicsuse of sources and citations/works cited page: follows appropriate format for all sources

Without these, your message is less effective.

Techniques for Approach 1: Assignment Accuracy

Look at the original language from the assignment (your teacher’s handout or assignment from the book). Imagine you are your teacher. What are you expecting from this paper?

Techniques for Approach 2: Big Picture

Compare your thesis and outline with your essay– Did you develop it the way you outlined it?– Did you stick to your thesis?– Did you support all of your points?

Brainstorm questions that your reader might have– Have you argued all of your points completely?– Did you use sources that cannot be questioned?– Does what you have written leave the reader with a sense of

satisfaction?

Techniques for Approach 3: Smaller Picture

Read backwards and read out loud1. Pick a random paragraph and choose the last sentence in it. 2. Read it out loud and listen to yourself as you read. Does the

sentence sound grammatically good to you? If not, make corrections.

3. Move to the sentence directly before that one and read it out loud.

4. By doing this, you are making the sentences stand out more clearly, enabling you to “hear” any problems in grammar.

Summary

The time you spend editing can result in a better essay with a better gradeEdit for WHAT you want to say (“Big Picture” issues)Edit for HOW you are saying it (“Smaller Picture” issues)Imagine how the reader will react to your writing

Good work!

The writing process is a way for you to express your ideas!

Enjoy it!

Workshop for LATC by L. Sippel, 2003