Revision to the Rescue: Expository Writing

Betsy Newmeyer

Prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about writing

Read Write

TalkWalk

Listen

Revise

Justify Steal

Who Am I?

You can’t revise what you haven’t written

Why do people write?

Why do authors revise?

THIS IS NOT THE Writing Process!!!

This Is The Real Writing Process

Editing vs. Revising

Improves Readability

Clarifies Meaning

Turning in your first draft is like

showing up to a fancy party

in your underwear.

It’s not pretty, it’s not appropriate,

and no one wants to see it.

YOUR MISSIONIn your envelope, you and your partners have been given a secret writing topic. Using the tiny slips of paper provided to you, list 20 different ideas that can be included in this top secret essay. One idea per paper, please.

Switch, Read & Steal1. SWITCH TEAMS2. Read your new team’s ideas and organize them into

paragraphs.3. SWITCH TEAMS (find a brand new table)4. As a team, take a moment to read the articles on the

table. Highlight or cut out 20 academic words/phrases from the text.

5. Fit your ideas/phrases into the essay structure.

Time to Turn to the Expert in the Room● What methods do authors use to hook the reader?● How does an author introduce their ideas or reasons?● How do authors organize their paragraphs? ● What transition words did the author use?● Reverse engineer this article. Write the outline the

author used to organize their thoughts.● Study the author’s word choices. What stands out to you?

Read to Learn Write to Practice

How Do Authors Revise?1. Start with the big stuff.

a. Answered writing prompt?b. Gave sufficient evidence?c. Organized in meaningful way?

2. Read the essay aloud3. Find critique partners 4. Rewrite, add, or delete

until the message is clear5. Send to editor or agent6. Begin revision process all

over again

Bad Paragraph ExampleI think my parents should raise my allowance. Most of the time I do my chores. One of my chores is to clean my bedroom. My bedroom is usually pretty messy. I have a bunk bed and share a room with my little sister. My bedroom is pink with purple butterflies on the wall.

Q: What’s wrong with this writing sample? How should it be revised?

Build a Paragraph

A chef I am not, and last night’s debacle can prove it.

RULES TO FOLLOW➔ Writing time = time to play

with words, strategies, new concepts.

➔ Writing is an artform. Practice it.

➔ Encourage students to turn to the writing experts in the classroom . . . their favorite authors and magazines!

Writing is never done . . . it’s simply due