REVISING AND EDITING

Writing the First Draft 1. Purpose: Get your ideas on paper 2. Getting Started: a. Freewrite or write a discovery draft b. Use a formal outline c. Break essay into parts and write the different parts separately starting with the easiest section d. Do not concentrate on mechanics and organization – leave that to revision stage. e. As you use an idea from your sources put reference in parenthesis immediately (Brown 45) 3. Format : write on one side, every other line, with margins

Revision Inexperienced writers do little more than refine word choices, correct grammatical or mechanical errors Revision – “re-vision” to see again with fresh eyes; to revise you need to evaluate, change and reevaluate your draft. Decide whether to write an entirely new draft or revise the one you have (Troyka 57, 58) Be systematic – don’t evaluate at random; a. begin with overall organization b. then move on its paragraphs c. then to its sentences d. then to its word choice

Examine your draft globally Is the thesis clearly stated? Is the supporting evidence sufficient? Is the paper logically organized? The role of unity and coherence (Troyka 61) Does the introduction arouse interest and prepare readers for what follows? Does the conclusion leave readers with a strong final impression, question or challenge? Are any sections off-topic or redundant? (Connelly 127)

Consider your paper with a “reader’s eye” Are your readers likely to be receptive, indifferent, or hostile to your views? What details will arouse interest or defend your thesis? Do you expect reader objections? Do you anticipate differing opinions? Do your readers need any additional background info to appreciate your views? Are there any misunderstandings or misconceptions that should be clarified or dispelled? Do terms or concepts require definitions? Will readers respond favourably to the style and tone of your paper?

Analyze Your Critical Thinking Distinguish Fact from Opinion A fact is a verifiable statement that something is true or that something has occurred. An opinion is a conclusion or belief that can never be substantiated beyond any doubt and is, therefore, debatable. An opinion may be supported or unsupported. (Kirsner & Mandell 57)

Evaluating Supporting Evidence The more reliable the supporting evidence – examples, statistics, or expert testimony - the more willing readers will be to accept a statement. No matter what kind of evidence writers use, it must be - accurate - sufficient - representative - relevant (Kirsner & Mandell 56)

Analyze Your Critical Thinking: Common Errors in Critical Thinking Ignoring the Role of Coincidence Hasty Generalizations or Jumping to Conclusions Relying on Anecdotal Evidence Mistaking Time Relationships for Cause and Effect Making Faulty Comparisons or Analogies Assuming Trends will Continue, Making “Slippery Slope” Judgments False Dilemmas Relying on False Authorities, Attacking Personalities, Guilt by Association Using Circular Reasoning (Begging the Question) Making Emotional or Irrelevant Statements (Red Herring) Equivocation Argument to Ignorance Appealing to People’s Prejudice (Connelly 51-8; Kirszner & Mandell 59-61)

Revise Organization When satisfied that draft expresses the meaning that you want to get across to your reader, check organization Is your organizational plan appropriate for your thesis and purpose? Do you provide transitions and connecting ideas? What should you add so that audience can better follow your train of thought? What should be eliminated to clarify meaning? What should you move that is out of place, or should be grouped elsewhere? Does each paragraph have a main idea that relates to the thesis, and does all material in paragraph support it?

Revise Organization (cont) Read essay out loud. What ideas or facts are missing, poorly stated, or repetitive? Examine the Thesis – does essay have one or is it just a collection of facts? Where have you placed the thesis? Is that the best place for it? Review Topic Sentences and Controlling Ideas for each paragraph. Do all paragraphs support the thesis? Do all ideas, support relate to the thesis? Review sequence of paragraphs – from general to specific; specific to general, chronological, spatial? Revise introduction – does it limit the topic, give adequate background, and address reader concerns? Revise conclusion Revise supporting paragraphs is evidence easy to follow? Are there clear transitions between ideas and between paragraphs? Should some paragraphs be broken up and others joined?

Revise Style Style, tone, voice, attitude and liveliness, or lack thereof are created by author’s choice and use of words, the length and complexity of sentences, and reader-based expression; Five ways to improve your writing style: 1.Move from writer-based prose to reader-based prose 2. Add your own voice 3. Stress verbs rather than nouns 4. Eliminate ineffective language 5. Eliminate sexist language (Kennedy 64)

Editing Read paper out loud to catch glaring errors The reread line by line, sentence by sentence - check for correct usage, - punctuation, - spelling, - mechanics, - manuscript form, (see pg 72 of text) - typos.

Proofreading This concerns itself with the finished product – for accuracy and neatness 1.Make a last check for errors in text – mechanics and typos 2.Use appropriate format 3.Read line by line - look for letters accidentally omitted, inserted, inverted; indentations omitted, created incorrectly, and check the reference list closely. 4.One technique: a. use a ruler under each line to prevent yourself from looking beyond that line b. reading backwards (from the last line to the first) sentence by sentence to prevent yourself from being distracted by the content of the paper. c. proofreading the final draft aloud to yourself or friend so that you can hear the errors that slipped past your eyes. (Troyka 64)