1. Making your writing more powerful using the 6 traits
Writing & Revision
Making your writing more powerful using the 6 traits
Mrs. Cuadrado
English 10

2. Revising for IDEAS
Strong writing presents a clear focus or message with specific details that support that focus
BEGINNING WITH a clear, complete thesis statement
States the theme you’re analyzing and connects it with at least 1 element
How do the elements found in the story impact the characters and their actions?
EXAMPLE: The importance of father and son relationships emerges as a major theme in Night as Elie and his father depend on one another to survive the brutal conditions, treatment, and inhumanity they face in the concentration camps.
EXAMPLE #2: While many of characters in Of Mice and Men exhibit the loneliness that accompanies the lifestyle of a migrant worker, George and Lennie show the reader the importance friendship, a major theme in Steinbeck’s novella.

3. Revising for IDEAS
Do my body paragraphs (analysis) clearly reveal and support my thesis statement?
Choose events related to the theme your thesis statement reveals
EXAMPLE: One way in which Elie and his father demonstrate their dependence on one another to survive is when …
EXAMPLE #2: George and Lennie demonstrate the importance of having a friend when…

4. Revising for ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION is the way your IDEAS are arranged in your essay
A clear beginning, middle, and ending
Paragraphs flow smoothly from one to the next
Opening sentence contains a key word or idea from the previous paragraph to connect
Use of appropriate transitional words/phrases
For example; Furthermore; Additionally; Although… (see complete list of transitions!)
Each paragraph is coherent
Sentences within paragraph flow smoothly from one to the next

5. Revising for VOICE VOICE is the way your writing sounds
It’s important to sound knowledgeable about your topic
Be direct
Avoid beginning sentences with “It is” or “There is”
Maintain the third-person point of view throughout!
RIP: I, you, me, we
Use he, she, it, they instead!

6. Revising for WORD CHOICE
Use words with correct connotation
Replace words that portray the wrong feeling
Replace bland verbs, adverbs, and adjectives with more powerful and vivid selections
RIP: very, nice, really, good, bad, etc.
USE A THESAURAS!!!!!!!

7. Revising for WORD CHOICE
Have I effectively used literary terms in my analysis?
Literary terms reveal your understanding of the novel and help you express yourself
EXAMPLE: The importance of father and son relationships emerges as a major theme in Night as Elie and his father depend on one another to survive the brutal conditions, treatment, and inhumanity they face in the concentration camps.

8. Revising for SENTENCE FLUENCY
Use a variety of sentence structures and lengths to create a pleasing rhythm
Short sentences place emphasis on an important idea
Balance Sentences
Elements within each sentence are parallel, or stated in the same way
Examples
UNBALANCED SENTENCE: Granny knew that her love could be seen in the food she cooked, her making all the clothes, and the gardens she liked growing.
BALANCED SENTENCE: Granny knew that her love could be seen in the food she cooked, the clothes she made, and the garden she grew.

9. Revising for CONVENTIONS
CONVENTIONS are the rules for punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling.
Spell check!
Place commas before and after any words or phrases that interrupt the flow of your sentences

10. Revising for CONVENTIONS
Your, you’re
To, two, too
Then, than
Except, accept

11. Revising for CONVENTIONS
We always write about literature using the PRESENT TENSE!
Elie struggles to survive.
George and Lennie exemplify the meaning of true friendship.

12. Miscellaneous