REVISION
Few writers get everything right on the first try. As a result, most writers find themselves needing to make changes and adjustments as they write. Once a project is ‘finished,’ it frequently needs to be looked at for oversights, mistakes, or even unnecessary additions. This process, known as revision, is essential to academic writing.
Overview:
Revision is not the same thing as editing. With editing, the goal is to fix minor mistakes while preserving the form, tone, structure, and style of the original piece of writing. Revision, on the other hand, is about reconsidering the form, tone, structure, style, and even content of a project.
Too often, novice writers get stuck assuming that just because they have gone through the effort of reading something that they should keep it. One problem is that very few people are able to write well without a little effort and warm-up. Another problem is that sometimes ideas occur to a writer that, while good, just don’t fit into the whole.
Revision is, really, about “re-” visualizing a project and working on it with as much of a willingness to change it as the writer can muster.
Application:
Student writers need to be willing to embrace revision. Too often, ‘revision’ for student writers means that they ask someone to look over it for typos (that’s editing) or that they simply add or subtract a couple of sentences. Real revision is hard work, and it should represent a significant portion of the time the writer spends on the paper.
When revising a paper, student writers should consider whether or not each section is necessary, whether or not it adds to the paper’s argument, and whether or not it makes sense. When looking to add content, students should consider elaborating upon ideas or clarifying any confusing passages. Most importantly, students should make sure to adapt each paper to its specific audience.
What to Avoid:
Try not to think of a project as “only” the first draft. Remember that a 5-page paper really isn’t done once five pages are written. A 5-page draft is done. The next step involves being willing to change the work. Student writers need to try not to get too attached to parts of an essay just because they wrote them. Ultimately, it will be the final product that receives a grade, and not the ‘effort’ that the student put in.
Few writers get everything right on the first try. As a result, most writers find themselves needing to make changes and adjustments as they write. Once a project is ‘finished,’ it frequently needs to be looked at for oversights, mistakes, or even unnecessary additions. This process, known as revision, is essential to academic writing.
Overview:
Revision is not the same thing as editing. With editing, the goal is to fix minor mistakes while preserving the form, tone, structure, and style of the original piece of writing. Revision, on the other hand, is about reconsidering the form, tone, structure, style, and even content of a project.
Too often, novice writers get stuck assuming that just because they have gone through the effort of reading something that they should keep it. One problem is that very few people are able to write well without a little effort and warm-up. Another problem is that sometimes ideas occur to a writer that, while good, just don’t fit into the whole.
Revision is, really, about “re-” visualizing a project and working on it with as much of a willingness to change it as the writer can muster.
Application:
Student writers need to be willing to embrace revision. Too often, ‘revision’ for student writers means that they ask someone to look over it for typos (that’s editing) or that they simply add or subtract a couple of sentences. Real revision is hard work, and it should represent a significant portion of the time the writer spends on the paper.
When revising a paper, student writers should consider whether or not each section is necessary, whether or not it adds to the paper’s argument, and whether or not it makes sense. When looking to add content, students should consider elaborating upon ideas or clarifying any confusing passages. Most importantly, students should make sure to adapt each paper to its specific audience.
What to Avoid:
Try not to think of a project as “only” the first draft. Remember that a 5-page paper really isn’t done once five pages are written. A 5-page draft is done. The next step involves being willing to change the work. Student writers need to try not to get too attached to parts of an essay just because they wrote them. Ultimately, it will be the final product that receives a grade, and not the ‘effort’ that the student put in.
