Revising Strategies

Notes for 11/3/23 ENSC 105W

Why Revise

• Makes you look untrustworthy

  • ethos = credibility

    • should i trust this person

  • Logos = logic

    • how much did he spend sending theses letters

  • pathos = Emotion

    • he was using the Microsoft grammar checker

• Revising like an Expert

  • Novices tend to focus on editing the low-level details of correctness

    • some style, but fail to focus on revising for the high-level issues of substance and persuasion.
      • Go back to the high level issues and check the substance and persuasion

Specific Revising Strategies

• Always double check the rubric

  • check the example papers

• Leave sufficient time for editing and revising

  • 40% is ideal

• Take time out to gain perspective

  • have a buffer period when writing and editing

• Read the document critically:

  • Engage your creative faculties while drafting; be critical while revising

    • levels of revising
      • 1a. Content/Argument quality
      • 1b. paragraph organization
      • 2a. format conventions
      • 2b. persuasive/informative emphasis
      • 3. sentence structure and style
      • 4. grammar, punctuation, and spelling

• Revise in several sweeps:

  • cant attend to all the details as we read through work

    • be specific on each sweep
      • with sweeping you can find more issues

  • Make a paper copy:

    • not only can we see formatting problems on paper more easily but for some people it is better

• Read your document aloud:

  • language is first oral rather than written;

    • consequently, we often hear certain kinds of errors that we do not see

• Read the document backwards

  • helps with finding issues with writing by breaking up the brains interpolation

• Check the outline of the document

  • you might deviate or jump to conclusions

• Make a list of recurring problems:

  • one of the best ways to improve the quality of your writing

    • watch out for reoccurring words

• Read titles, headings and labels carefully

  • We often forget this

    • as this can have some of the biggest errors

• ACKNOWLEDGE

  • you have to acknowledge

    • ChatGPT
    • Peer reviewers
    • grammarly
    • word grammar editor

• Rewrite the introduction:

  • Always double check the introduction fits everything you wrote

Fleschkincaid grade level

• Level of reading

  • make sure your reading level is not too high or too low