Revision Strategies, Fall 2014

Revision Strategies Writing Resources Center http://www.writing.uncc.edu/writingresources-center

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Writing Resources Center (WRC) Locations: 125 Cameron T1 Atkins Library (by Peet’s) Center for Graduate Life (CGL) 714 Center City Phone: 704-687-1899

Web: writing.uncc.edu/writingresources-center

Appointments: writing.uncc.edu/writing-resourcescenter/schedule-appointment

E-mail: wrchelp@uncc.edu

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Workshop Objectives    

Become familiar with Reasons for revision Discover resources for help with revision Practice revision

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What Is Revision?

Revision is: 

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A stage in the writing process that is done before proofreading and editing The careful examination of a paper for unity, coherence and adequate development

Revision is not: 

Editing, proofreading or just changing errors

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Why Revise?

Revision allows you to re-see your piece of writing in order to:     

Fulfill your purpose Review your focus Address your audience Generate additional ideas and information Omit what is not necessary

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Tips For Revision 

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Give yourself plenty of time to revise; set a special amount of time aside just for revision Stay flexible with your writing; be ready to change anything at any time Read the paper out loud and listen to it; read it into a tape recorder or to a friend Read through your paper focusing on one thing at a time:  Read for content  Read for organization  Read for expressions Writing Resources Center

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Reading for Content   

Do you have a clear thesis that accurately presents your focus?

Are your points appropriate for your audience and purpose?

Does your conclusion wrap up all your points effectively?

Information taken from Barbara Fine Clouse’s A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers

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Reading for Organization 

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Do your ideas follow logically from one to the next?

Do your paragraphs follow logically from one to the next?

Do you transition smoothly between paragraphs relating your ideas to each other?

Information taken from Barbara Fine Clouse’s A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers

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Reading for Expression    

Do you overuse any particular words?

Have you avoided wordiness?

Have you eliminated clichés?

Do you vary your sentence structure?

Information taken from Barbara Fine Clouse’s A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers

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Tips For Revision 

Questions to ask while revising  Have I met the requirements of the assignments?  Did I focus on what I intended?  Have I achieved my purpose?  Have I written the paper so that audience and understands my purpose?  What is the main idea?  Have I answered important questions about the main idea?  Have I explored the subject fully?

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Revision Practice Choose one of the following options, and try it out with your paper.  Write 2 new introductions  Write 2 new conclusions  Put your draft aside, and quickly write down all the points you want to make  In a paragraph, describe how your paper engages with the assignment topic Writing Resources Center

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