Revision

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• Revision is a second (third, fourth, etc) chance to get it right

• Nobody gets it right the first time

• Revision is an opportunity, not punishment

• Understanding what revision actually is makes the process less difficult and frightening
  

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• In the course of drafting your rough draft, you’ve already revised

• Every time you make a change, it’s a revision

• The Revision phase of the writing process is just a more focused effort

• It’s about paying attention to what you created and asking questions about it
  

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• The Revision phase of the writing process is about the big picture, not the small stuff

• Focuses on thesis, audience, organization, paragraph breaks, description, etc.

• Rarely goes below paragraph level

• Never goes below sentence level
  
  

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• A chance to Re-vision your draft

• Re-think it

• Re-work it if necessary

• Re-write it in some cases (but not all)

• Basically it’s about asking questions about what you wrote

• Trying to read it like a reader, not a writer
  

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• Did you accomplish what you set out to do in the draft?

• Don’t assume that the answer will always be negative

• Most of your decisions/writing is solid

• We are looking for the EXCEPTIONS – the few places where it could be improved

• Leave the rest alone
  

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So, remember

Revision is not a punishment

It’s a second chance to get it right

We are looking for the few elements that aren’t quite right

We are concerned with big picture stuff only

We are going to question everything

But most will be okay

We’ll only change the few weaker areas

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Revision Questions