RevisingRevision = Re-vision. During this stage, you are not just correcting punctuation and grammar. You are completely changing some parts of your paper in order to improve it. This probably means deleting and rewriting some of your work so that your ideas flow naturally and clearly together. While you might be attached to your writing, revising is VERY important, and everyone should aim to have a final draft that is significantly different from their first draft. Remember that professional writers sometimes write more than 70 versions of the same book and they are PROFESSIONALS! Every student should be able to find areas that they can change around to improve their essays.
This is much more "big picture" than editing. |
EditingAfter you revise and rewrite, you edit. Editing is checking your work for punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors, and fixing the errors you find.
This is much more "small picture" than revising. Click to View the Best Explanation of Editing vs. Revising (In My Opinion) by Clarion University:
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Before Revising, Review the Rubric
Let the rubric guide your efforts. Be honest with yourself and figure out if there's anything you can change in your essay to improve your chance of meeting the requirements for the "A" column (5).
argumentative_essay_6-traits_rubric_template._smekens.pdf | |
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Two Other Ways to Improve your Writing
I'm only mentioning two specific ways to improve your writing because I want you to focus on these two things, and not just ignore them. These are very important techniques!
*1.*
Focus on improving your essay's COHESION. You can do this by improving your use of transition words and phrases, and by moving your sentences/paragraphs around so that any writing involving similar topics is grouped together. You also make sure to show how every idea is linked to your thesis (overall position) so the reader remembers that you're really focused on one topic.
Here is a link to help you from Roane State Community College OWL (Online Writing Lab): Improving Cohesion
Focus on improving your essay's COHESION. You can do this by improving your use of transition words and phrases, and by moving your sentences/paragraphs around so that any writing involving similar topics is grouped together. You also make sure to show how every idea is linked to your thesis (overall position) so the reader remembers that you're really focused on one topic.
Here is a link to help you from Roane State Community College OWL (Online Writing Lab): Improving Cohesion
*2.*
Taking out "to be" verbs and replacing them with action verbs can make your writing more interesting and exciting to read.
Here is a resource to help you from Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice
Taking out "to be" verbs and replacing them with action verbs can make your writing more interesting and exciting to read.
Here is a resource to help you from Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice