Editing your paper with Ratiocination

Ratiocination: Step 1 Circle every “be” verb you can find in your paper.  What are “be” verbs? be, being, been, am, are, was, were, is When you are finished, count the number of “be” verbs and write the number at the top of your paper. When revising, cut this number in half!

Ratiocination: Step 2 Underline every other sentence in your paper. Then, go back and underline the other sentences with a different color. Every sentence in your paper should be underlined in alternating colors. Evaluate your sentence lengths. Are they all short? All long? Are there any really short ones that may be fragments? Any long ones that may be run-ons? Make changes when you revise so the pattern of sentence length varies.

Ratiocination: Step 3 Using just one color, draw a box around the first word of every sentence in your paper. In the margin, make a list of your first words. Are there any patterns? Are there several that start with the same word? When you revise, change some up so you have a nice variety.

Ratiocination: Step 4 Find the bland words in your writing and cross them out.  What words are “bland”? Very, got, get, stuff, so, etc. When revising, replace them with more vivid words.

Ratiocination: Step 5 Look at one paragraph in the body What is the main idea of that paragraph? Write your idea in the margin Continue for each paragraph

Ratiocination: Step 6 Put it in a triangle. What does it refer to in your sentence? Is it clear to the reader?

Tomorrow We will have our classmates look at our paper. We will begin writing the final draft on Thursday with a due date of Friday. This is worth 20% of your grade.

Final Draft Reminders If you are hand writing the final draft:  Use black or blue pen  Skip lines  Only write on the front of the page If you are typing the final draft:  Use black ink  Times New Roman  12 pt font  Double space Include the proper header in the upper left-hand corner (your name, teacher, class, date) Include a title