Revising First Drafts

What Does It Mean to Revise?

Revision Process

• Concentrate on the Ideas

• Make sure you have made all important points about your subject.

• Make sure your audience can understand your ideas.

Getting Started with Revision

• Read and Review• Read your first draft two or three times.

• Read it out loud.

• Think about your writing as you read.

• Does it follow your plan?

• Does it say what you want it to say?

• Look for the strong points.

• Put a * next to parts that you like.

• Look for weak parts – put a check mark next to parts that need work

Revision

• Does my writing focus on an interesting part of my subject or on a certain feeling I have about it?

• Does the information in my writing follow a method of organization?

• Do I need to add any information?• Do I need to add details to make my beginning clearer or more

interesting?• Did I vary my sentence beginnings?• Did I use grade appropriate sentences (compound/complex)?• Did I use grade level vocabulary?• Do I need to add ideas to support my thesis?• Do I need to make my closing more effective?

Revision

• Do I need to cut any information?• Do any of the details not belong?

• Do I repeat myself in any parts?

• Do I say too much about a certain idea?

• Get rid of filler• Filler is any information you do not need. It bogs down your

writing. Cut all information that does not • Develop your focus

• Make your main points clearer

• Support your thesis or argument

• Advance the action of your story.

Revision

• Do I need to rewrite any parts?

• Do some sentences sound unclear?• Did I keep my verbs in the same verb tense?• Did I correct passive voice verbs?

Incorrect: The poem was written by Anne Bradstreet.(passive voice)

Correct: Anne Bradstreet wrote the poem. (active voice)

• Do I need to reword any explanations?

Revision

• Do I need to reorder any parts?• Do any ideas or details seem out of place?• Does the most important point come near the

beginning or near the end?• Do I use a chronological order?• Do I use the correct form for compare/contrast?• Did I include transition words between

paragraphs?

Revision

• Check your opening and ending.

• A good opening hooks readers and makes them want to read.

• A good ending leaves the reader with something to think about… a scene, a comment, a question, etc.

Revision

• Revise for Voice• Match voice to your purpose.

Editing an Proofreading

• When editing and proofreading, pay attention to the following three traits of effective writing: smoothness, word choice, and correct, accurate copy.• Sentence smoothness: Make sure that your sentences lead

readers smoothly from one point to the next.

• Word Choice: Change any troublesome or overused words to improve the overall quality of your writing.

• Correct, Accurate Copy: Carefully check your writing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Editing Checklist

• Sentence Structure• Did I write clear and complete sentences?• Check for fragments and run-on sentences.• Did I add style to my sentences?

• Out of style:• A surplus of calories is necessary for growth in

children.• In Style:• Children need plenty of calories for growth.• Place subjects and verbs close to each other

Editing Checklist

• Word Choice and Usage• Did I use specific nouns and verbs and colorful

adjectives?• Did I use the correct word (to, too, two; there,

their, they’re; then, than?)

Editing Checklist

• Punctuation• Does each sentence have end punctuation?• Did I use commas and apostrophes correctly?• Did I use semicolons correctly?• Did I punctuate dialogue correctly?

Editing Checklist

• Capitalization• Did I start all of my sentences with capital letters?• Did I capitalize the names of important people

and places?• Did I capitalize all proper adjectives, for example,

English, Spanish, etc.?

Editing Checklist

• Grammar• Did I use the correct form of verbs?• Do all the subjects and verbs agree?• Did I write plural nouns correctly?

Editing Checklist

• Spelling• Did I check for spelling errors?• Did I check for typos?• Did I check for errors that spell check may have

missed?