Effective Tips for Editing and Revising
The easiest way to motivate oneself to edit your writing is to consider revision as the opportunity to walk up to what you’ve stated and challenge it before anyone else can.
The process can be daunting, but editing can be as simple as asking yourself the following: Is my writing satisfying, informative, powerful, and interesting? Are there parts that could be better? The chipping away of excess words, the addition of some for more clarity, the exchange of a word for a better one — this is all revision.
Check for Specific Features
Advising students to read over their work to improve it is not helpful. Ask them to be selective and look for specific features at a time such as, precise word choice and grammar or conveyance of mood. Some questions to consider:
- Does my writing convey a dominant mood?
- Do the details convey a dominant mood?
- Do the words convey a dominant mood?
Criteria for Content and Organization | My purpose, audience, and focus are clear My details are adequate and appropriate My ideas are understandable for my target audience My introduction creates interest My content is logically organized My transitions are effective My conclusion is clear and effective |
Criteria for Voice | My writing displays my caring and emotion when emotion fits My word choice, details, and images are appropriate and original My writing consistently captures the tone of the characters’ voices and my own (read aloud). |
Criteria for Vocabulary and Sentence | My word choice is precise, appropriate, and vivid My sentences are complete Some of my sentences begin with something other than the subject. |
Criteria for Grammar/Usage | My spelling is correct My punctuation and capitalization are correct I employ conventional grammar/usage unless unconventional usage is appropriate for realism |
The preceding was adapted from Seven Steps to Successful Writing by Graham Foster, published by Pembroke Publishers