The Art of Revision English 8

Revision vs. Editing Revision = changing the content of what you are writing Example: Adding a detail is revision. Editing = changing the appearance of what you are writing Example: Adding a comma is editing.

Revision is like. . . Revision is like cleaning your room because it may not be fun while you’re doing it but when you’re finished, you can stand back and see what you’ve done, and think, “Wow! That looks great!” - Lisa Schroeder, author of I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Revision is like. . . “Revision is like getting everyone in the choir to sing in harmony because if one voice sticks out, it ruins it for everyone else.” - Kathi Appelt, author of Kissing Tennessee and Poems from Homeroom

Revision Takes Planning Before we start editing in depth, we need to focus on revision. There are SO MANY WAYS to revise! We’ll show you just a few methods or strategies to making your writing better . . . . But that isn’t all you can do! You need to have a plan about how you are going to go about your revisions – you can’t just slash and burn for no reason!

First thing is first. You need to make sure your draft fits the characteristics of your genre. You also need to make sure you have an appropriate length. Therefore, you may need to look at adding details and personal examples. You may also want to add things to help bring voice to your writing (a concept we’ll go into depth with next quarter).

Paragraphing One thing we have noticed in a lot of your drafts is a lack of paragraphs. Good writers know that readers find writing with paragraphs easier to follow and more logical. They also get less bored if there are more paragraphs.

Example It drives me crazy when people don’t use basic manners. It isn’t like it is that hard – don’t most people learn manners when they are little kids? I am not talking about advanced etiquette – I am talking about just saying please and thank you and not grabbing stuff. Another example is when people try to come into closed doors without knocking. My parents always taught me that it was really rude just to try to come into a door if it was closed. I think it is polite to knock on a closed door in any circumstances, including the bathroom. Don’t just push on the closed door as if no one is in there! Geez! So irritating! And another thing is when people just assume that you will get them whatever they want. Since when did I become your servant? Do you see me making any money from fetching you your glass of water or reaching for your phone? It is one thing for you to ask me nicely, but it is a whole other thing to just assume that I am going to go out of my way, when you clearly don’t even say thank you.

Paragraphing Good writers know when to split their draft into paragraphs.  Paragraphs help readers organize what they are reading, and avoid both confusion and boredom.  When do you split into paragraphs? When there is a change in time or action When there is a change in perspective (like someone different is talking or thinking) When you switch what you are describing

Example of Changing Time or Action “For the rest of the night and the next day, I kept thinking about what my dad had said… If [Coach] Downs could make me a captain, why couldn’t he let me start? And what did I have to lose? If he said no . . . So what? After Tuesday’s practice I walked down the long hallway and knocked on Coach Down’s office door.” - Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

Example of Changing Perspective “’I’m sorry for what’s happened to you,’ said the bigger policeman. “’Nobody deserves that kind of trouble.’” ’Thank you,’ said Henry’s mother.’ ‘That coffee sure does smell good,’ said the less bigger policeman. Henry’s mother nodded.” - Trouble by Gary Schmidt

Example of Changing Description “I scurried across the lawn in my cutest pajamas. I could have left my day clothes on, but this felt better. I supposed it didn’t matter what I wore, but I felt pretty in my little brown shorts and fitted white shirt. It wasn’t hard anymore to scale the slats nailed into the tree with only one hand. I’d developed that skill as well.” - The Selection by Kiera Cass