Luckily, there are many Revision strategies. You can make as many changes as necessary until your write exactly what you want it to say. Most professional writers will tell you that the process of making changes, or revising, is the most exciting, challenging, and important part of writing.Revision in writing helps you turn your early drafts into more complete pieces of writing. It deals with the big changes you make to improve the ideas in your writing.Don’t get sidetracked by surface errors (spelling, punctuation, and grammar) when you’re revising. You can deal with them later on in the process.
Revision Strategies Are The Best Way To Correct Your writing And Make It Perfect
Starting Point: You’re ready to revise, once you .
- complete your first draft (or an additional early draft),
- set it aside for a day or two, and then
- review your writing for its meaning.
To get started, look first at the big picture. Decide if there is a focus or main idea that holds your writing together. Then look at specific chunks of information. Add, reorder, cut, and rewrite different parts as needed. Each sentence or paragraph should support your focus.
FORM:
If you’re working on a computer, make your revise on a printed copy of your draft. Then enter the changes on the computer. Make sure to save the original copy so you have a record of the revisions you’ve made.
If you’re writing with pen and paper, work in the same way. Make your revisions on the first draft. Then recopy your work, incorporating all of your changes. Save the original draft for your records.
THE BIG PICTURE:
When revision, pay special attention to the following traits of good writing: ideas, organization, and voice.
Ideas: Check the information in your first draft to make sure that it supports\your main idea.
Organization: Make sure that the beginning, the middle, and the ending parts are easy to follow.
Voice: Consider the way you have stated your ideas. Have you used an appropriate tone?
Keys To Good Revision
Keep Your Purpose In Mind.
Why are you writing? To tell and different patterns of organization. To tell a story? To give information? To explain how to do something? To get your readers to agree with you?Different kinds of writing require different kinds of audience. When your purpose is set, it is much easier to know what changes are needed in your writing.
Picture Your Audience.
Who are your readers? People your own age? Adults? Young children? How much do they already know about your subject? What do need to know? Try to imagine the top questions they may have about your subject. Then ask yourself whether your writing answers these questions.
Read your Work Loud
Always read what you have written loud to yourself or to an audience. Learn to think like a reader: Does this make sense? Is this voice for my purpose and audience? Does it begin and end effectively?
Share your Draft
Have at least one other person read and react to your writing. A sunders advice can be invaluable
Revising for Ideas
When the ideas are unclear in a piece of writing, it’s usually for one or both of these reasons:
- You started writing before you knew enough about the subject.
- You had no focus in mind, which results in rambling writing.
Have enough information.
Writing without enough information is like trying to drive a car that is just about out of gas. You won’t get far. Know your topic inside and out so you can include plenty of details.
General, vague sentence:
Sharks are interesting creatures.
Specific, appealing sentences:
Sharks cannot blink their eyes, and they shed no tears. Their favorite food is crabs; it is said they dislike the taste of humans.
Reaching for Organization
You can have the best information, but if you just throw it together, Store’s a good chance that your reader won’t be able to follow it. Think of yourself as a guide, walking someone through the maze of your An organized guide would help a reader know what to look for, what is most important, where to go next, and so on.
Check your opening.
A rood opening hooks your readers and makes them want to read on.
Get rid of Filler
Filler is any information you do not need. It bogs down your writing.Cut all information that does not . . .
- develop your focus,
- make your main points clearer,
- support your argument, or
- advance the action of your story.
Check your ending.
Revising for Voice,you should your reader with something to think about—a scene, a comment, lion, a story left untold.Remember that voice, the special way you state your ideas, is your personal imprint on your stories, essays, and reports.
Enjoy your topic.
Make sure that your writing oozes with your own energy and fascination.Writing to one special person, such as a trusted friend, brings out your voice as nothing else can. Write with so much enthusiasm that it will be impossible for this person to put your paper down. To ensure that your writing has voice . . .
- say what you really think.
- let your own feelings show in your writing.
- write as if you were having a conversation.
- keep your enthusiasm for your topic strong.
