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PROOFREADING AND REWRITING YOUR TEXT
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REREADING/ REWRITING TIPS
After you have written your first draft
you need to revise your work. Here you have some suggestions:
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Check subject-verb agreement in
every sentence. |
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Every sentence begins with capital
letters and ends in a period, exclamation or interrogation
mark. |
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Every sentence has at least one verb and
one subject. |
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Singular articles do not precede plural
nouns. |
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Check that your text has clear, wide
margins (2 centimeters up,down,left and right) |
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Check that pronouns have a close
referent. |
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Check in a dictionary the spelling of
words you don't know. |
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Check spelling rules, capital
letters and punctuation. |
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Check the present simple 3rd person
ending in -s |
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Check word-order in the sentence;
remember "every sentence MUST have a subject" and the
adjective usually precedes the noun. |
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Check tense coherence: for
instance if you are talking in the present check that verbs
are formed correctly in their present form. Check adding -s, -ed,
-ing, etc. |
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Check adjectives: Remember that
adjectives have no plural in English. |
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Is your text well organised? |
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Do you have a clear introduction
and conclusion? |
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Exchange your description with your partner. Read your partner’s text
and tell your partner about anything that is not clear or you don’t
understand. Also, tell your partner about any additions that are
needed. |
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Reread your paper taking into account “revision tips”. |
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Correct all types of problems you and your partner found. write your
paper. |
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You can also make the changes and additions that your partner
suggested. |
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After
revising your first draft (Go back and check “Rewriting tips”), write
your final draft |
(Taken from
kimskorner4teachertalk.com)
Revising is not the
same as editing. When you edit, you mainly check for errors in
conventions. When you revise, you check how you have presented your
ideas. You make changes, deletions, and additions. When it is time to
revise a piece of writing, follow these guidelines to ensure you
carefully look at each trait.
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IDEAS AND
CONTENT
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The paper has a
clear purpose or makes a point. |
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Each paragraph
relates to the paper's main idea. |
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Each paragraph
contains clear, relevant details and examples in every that develop
and support the main idea. |
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The writer sticks
to the main idea and leaves out details that do not matter.
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The paper contains
enough information to cover the subject. |
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The title, if there
is one, relates to the main idea of the paper and "hooks" the reader.
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ORGANIZATION
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The lead grabs the
reader's attention, making the reader want to read more. It also
gives a sense of the main idea. |
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The organizational
pattern makes sense. It is easy for the reader to follow along.
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There are no gaps
where something seems to be missing. |
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Each paragraph
talks about only one idea. |
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The ideas are
linked together with smooth transitions. |
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The conclusion ties
everything together with a final point or summary.
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The reader isn't
left "hanging." |
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VOICE
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The paper sounds
different from everyone else's. It's unique. |
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The paper sounds
like the writer. |
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The writing shows
how the writer feels and thinks about the topic.
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The paper has
personality. |
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The paper is
convincing, not "fake." |
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The paper is fun to
read. |
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The paper is lively,
or exciting in some way. |
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WORD CHOICE
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The words paint a
picture in the reader's mind. |
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There aren't any
words that are repeated too often. |
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The language is
natural, not overdone. |
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The writer used
strong action verbs to add drama to the paper. |
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The writer has used
specific nouns to identify people, places, and objects.
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The writer has used
descriptive adjectives to help create a mental picture for the
reader. |
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The writer has used
similes or metaphors to explain anything unusual to the reader.
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The writer has
avoided vague, boring, overused words, slang, and clichés. He/She
has tried something new. |
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SENTENCE FLUENCY
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Each sentence is a
complete thought that makes sense. No words have been left out.
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Any fragments used
are intentional and add to the message of the paper.
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Not all sentences
are the same length. |
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Not all sentences
have the same structure. |
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Not all sentences
begin the same way. |
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The paper is smooth
and easy to read. |
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WRITING
CONVENTIONS
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The paper isn't one
or two huge paragraphs. Each new idea has its own paragraph, which
is indented. |
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Similar ideas are
in the same paragraph so there aren't too many paragraphs.
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There are no
spelling errors. |
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Capitalization is
used correctly. |
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Sentences are
punctuated correctly. |
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There are no
grammatical errors. The reader doesn't have to stop reading to
mentally correct mistakes in the paper. |
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