Revising and Editing TRANSFORMING YOUR PAPER FOR YOUR AUDIENCE COPYRIGHT LISA MCNEILLEY, 2010.
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Transcript of Revising and Editing TRANSFORMING YOUR PAPER FOR YOUR AUDIENCE COPYRIGHT LISA MCNEILLEY, 2010.
Revising and EditingTRANSFORMING YOUR PAPER
FOR YOUR AUDIENCE
COPYRIGHT LISA MCNEILLEY, 2010
Revising for Your Reader
Your first draft is for YOU to get your ideas on paper.
Your revised draft is for your READER.
Make itinterestingeasy to understandcompellingpersuasive
Basic Operations
Add material
Delete material
Move sentences/paragraphs
Reword sentences to clarify and add focus
Focus of Revision
Thesis/ rest of the paper
Structure of the essay
Content and Ideas
Shift from writer to reader
Match Between Thesis and Content
Thesis: Is it clear? Does it reflect the paper?
What does this have to do with my purpose?
Structure of Paper
Outline: Did I use the best organizing strategy?
Does my outline reflect the strategy?
Does the outline match my paper?
Use key words in the margin to locate patterns, repetition, ideas that go together.
Paragraph Structure
About five sentences long
Unified in topic—named in topic sentence
Supported with evidence and details
Generally follow two structures (in following slides)
Paragraph Structure
Option 1
[Transition]
Topic Sentence
2-3 items of support
Explanation
Paragraph Structure
Option 2
Topic Sentence
1st item of support
Explanation
Transition
2nd item of support
Explanation …
Clarity of Ideas
What am I trying to say here?
What I really mean is…
Example of Improving Clarity
Better laws, because of the inadequacies of current laws and the ways that no one is able to enforce them because there really isn’t anyone entirely responsible, are important because they would improve enforcement.
Current laws are not adequate because there is no accountability for enforcement. There is a need for new laws.
Support of Your Ideas
Is there enough? Too much?
Is it specific?
Is it clearly related to my topic sentence?
Is it vivid?
Language/Style/Tone:Appeal to Readers
Is it appropriate to my reader?
Is it too informal? Do I avoid contraction?
Does language reflect passion, emotion, intensity?
Language/Style/Tone:Appeal to Readers, cont’d
Is it wordy?
Do sentences flow?
By beginning with the first step and going through the entire process, the first step is complicated.
Editing: The Final Stage Sentence and word level issues.Correcting grammarChoosing the best words—consider
connotationsVarying sentence structureLanguage at word level Precise and specific Avoid jargon and clichés Avoid bias
Editing Tips
Look things up.
Know your errors.
Check pronoun and verb usage.
Look for run-ons and fragments.
Proofreading
Proofreading deals with mechanics of writing.
Double check names, titles, numbers, quotes.
Check spelling yourself
Read backwards.
Read out loud.
Last Chance
Remember to think of your reader!
Read your paper out loud.