REVISION WORKSHOP

GROUP / PEER REVIEW

ROUGH DRAFT

Pre-Writing Exercises Cluster: add as many ideas / associations as

possible. Look for a common thread.

Write a first (rough) draft as quickly as possible: get it out, errs and all.

Summarize your idea; try it in 3 or lesssentences…

Writer’s Block “What do I write about?” or “I don’t want to do this!”

Focus on the assignment: Person(s)

Who did I learn a valuable lesson from in my past?

What difference do I see now I didn’t see then?

What activities did I engage in? What did I learn from the activity (about myself, and my interests/abilities)?

“Bully” story: 3rd Grade, Scott McGlamery

Writer’s Block (part 2) Place: visit a place from your past– what has

changed? What is the same? What is the meaning of the place to your life– then v now?

Describe the setting– what time of day were you observing it? What mood did you feel? Is the place in good repair, or in need of work? Are many people visible?

Writer’s Block (part 3) Thing: this may be too broad to wrap your mind

around it– simplify…

What is something that: gives you comfort?

What is an object you use everyday?

What is something you see everyday?

What is something that makes you part of a group?

Example: notepad, rubber bands, pens.

“My Second Brain.”

Writer’s Block (End) Other ideas: begin in the middle.

Talk it out: discuss in your group the connections in your cluster… have you cast too wide a net? How can you winnow down your choices? (After all, two and a half pages come quick when you have a good topic).

Role Play: Put yourself in someone else’s shoes….

Thesis Exercise Come up and grab a) one colored card: on each

card is a letter: find the person w/ the same color / letter, and group together.

Grab one essay from either pile: either “Music—Rough Draft” or “Kitchen, or Heart of the Abode”

Read. Using the clustering information, and contents of the essay, determine the following:

what is the thesis, or main point (so far) of the essay?

Create an outline draft of the info you have found.

Discuss with class….

Rough Draft Work Stay in the groups you are in: discuss the stage you are in

for your essay, due next Thursday, 9/20 (EOD).

If necessary, begin at the “Point of Contact” section of either Chapter 2, 3, or 4 (depending on which essay you chose for Journal 1, or Journal 2, whichever has “better legs”).

Begin clustering; when finished, take turns

Developing the cluster; begin writing

A rough draft. NEXT WEEK: Bring 3 copies of your rough draft, ready to be gone over.

Revision & Peer Review If you already have a rough draft, ready to go, read

aloud: Use the “Revision” section at the end of a chapter (2, 3, or 4)– ask specific questions. While the person is reading, take notes about essay:

1) what is working? 2) Be specific

3) Use the questions listed to help the reader determine how best to go forward…

NEXT WEEK: ROUGH DRAFT Bring 3 copies of your draft for Peer review/ Revision

Continue working on Current Discussion Board

Any questions / concerns? Contact me or Tutors….

EKG of What Your Brain Does

“Holy rhythm section Batman!”

And finally…