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Genre, Revision, and EditingBy Sandi Van Lieu

Introduction

College students are often tempted to write essays the night before they are due and then submit them as is. Even in the professional world, employees may send out emails, letters, or other forms of work-related material before checking for errors. Website pages are sometimes published without a second thought as to checking and double-checking for errors. This method, however, will almost always result in the author seeing the mistakes later and feeling embarrassed for not editing first.

Revision and editing are critical to the writing process. While brainstorming and drafting, writers should focus on getting their thoughts out and the content down; this is not the time to revise. Later during the revision stage, the writer should focus on revising the material and proofreading for grammatical errors. Even best-selling authors must still revise and edit because mistakes are always made, and often writers do not notice them the first time they revise. The best writers edit over and over again before turning in a final submission. This is the way the author is most likely to create organized content that is well written. As writing expert William Zinsser (2006) said, “Rewriting is the essence of writing well—where the game is won or lost” (p. 83).

Many writers, including students, often do not like the idea of editing or are not sure how to go about it. Sometimes writers assume that editing is simply looking for grammatical errors or that they do not have the skills to self-edit or peer edit; however, because a reader knows when a concept does not make sense, a sentence is too wordy or awkward, or an argument jumps to conclusions, any reader can revise and edit. Often, reading out loud to oneself or to someone else can help to locate where revisions are necessary.

Genre, Revision, and Editing

Because  genre  is interrelated with purpose and audience, it is important to consider who the audience is and what the purpose is while revising. Recall the discussion of genre in Chapter 3.

Revision  means to “see again.” It is the act of reading written material and rewriting and changing areas that need to be corrected. Revision generally focuses on “big picture” items, such as the standard parts of an essay, organization and flow, and generalizations and biases.

Editing  is the act of reading written material that has been revised and correcting conventions related to grammar and mechanics. Editing generally focuses on detailed items such as grammar, mechanics, and writing styles.

Revision

When self-revising or even peer revising, an editor should focus first on higher level concerns rather than small or minor details. The following are the elements a writer should look for when revising.

Introduction Content and Style

Recall that the purpose of the  introduction  is to draw readers in and engage readers in the writing. In addition, the introduction discusses the background of the subject. It can be tempting to be overly opinionated or passionate in the introduction, but it is important to know your audience and how your introduction may affect your readers. Writers should be aware of how they frame the introduction for their readers. When revising an introduction, ask the following questions:

· Is the opening catchy?

· Will the opening engage the reader?

· Is the opening easy to understand?

· Is the introduction appropriate for the genre?

· Will the opening appeal to the audience?

Figure 4.1

Paragraph Example

Thesis Statement

While a  thesis statement  may vary depending on the genre of the essay, generally, in first-year composition classes, a thesis statement is the paper’s central argument, is one sentence long, and is located at the end of the introduction. Thesis statements are typically written in third person statements; however, there are some exceptions to this. The thesis must make a statement as to what the essay is trying to prove in order to avoid irrelevant information.

When revising a thesis, ask the following questions:

· What point of view does the thesis statement employ?

· Does the thesis avoid statements like “This essay/paper will talk about…”?

· Is the thesis too broad?

· Is the thesis too narrow?

· Is the thesis argumentative?

· Is the thesis a question?

· Is the thesis not a fact or an observation?

· Is the thesis located in an appropriate place?

· Is the thesis an exaggeration?

· Is the thesis a generalization?

· Is the thesis vague or general?

· Does the content in the essay support and refer back to the thesis?

· Does the thesis meet the genre requirements?

· Does the thesis answer why and how?

· Does the thesis directly state or imply the essay’s central argument?

When revising the thesis, also keep the genre in mind. Tables 4.1 and 4.2 contain examples of thesis statements based on the type of essays written in this course.

Table 4.1

Revised Thesis Statements

Revised Thesis Statements
Incorrect Thesis	Type of Error	Revised Thesis
I think there are effective ways to revise…	Thesis uses first-person language	There are effective ways to revise…
This paper will look at how there are effective ways to revise…	Thesis uses “This paper…”	There are effective ways to revise…
Revision is important when going through the writing process.	Thesis is too broad	There are effective ways to revise, such as correcting organization, making the thesis statement more argumentative, and making sure the essay reaches the appropriate audience and purpose.
When a writer uses revision, he or she should correct organizational errors.	Thesis is too narrow	There are effective ways to revise, such as correcting organization, making the thesis statement more argumentative, and making sure the essay reaches the appropriate audience and purpose.
During the writing process, the writer will come to a point in which he or she will need to revise.	Thesis is not argumentative	In order to write an effective essay, it is important that a writer goes through the revision process.
Is it best for a writer to revise his or her essay?	Thesis is a question	It is best for a writer to revise his or her essay because…
Revision is something writers do during the writing process.	Thesis is fact or observation	Every writer should revise during the writing process because…
Revision is the best thing ever.	Thesis is an exaggeration	Revision is important during the writing process because…
Everyone should use revision.	Thesis is a generalization	Writers should use revision…
It is important for writers to make changes.	Thesis is vague	It is important for writers to make grammatical and organizational changes to his or her writing because…

Table 4.2

Genre-Specific Thesis Statements

Genre-Specific Thesis Statements
Genre Type	Example Thesis	Unique Conventions
Rhetorical Analysis	Smith’s (2014) commentary on police shooting black unarmed males fails to persuade because of his lack of evidence and overt appeal to emotion.	Relies strongly on ethos, logos, and pathos in order to examine the rhetorical situation and effectiveness of a text.
Review	The Civil War (2014) is a well-written and informative book based upon its accuracy, historical record, and expert authority	Focuses on evaluating a text for the given audience using specific criteria for judging.
Commentary	E-cigarettes, or vaping, is a beneficial alternative to smokers because it is less toxic and the second-hand smoke is not dangerous to inhale.	States an opinion or argument on a current event or trend.

Exercise 1

Use the following prompts to practice writing one-sentence thesis statements. Do not forget to make sure the thesis follows all the rules noted in this chapter.

· Increased minimum wage

· Funding for education

· Marijuana legalization

Body of the Essay Content

When revising the body of the essay, it is important to look at the content in each  body paragraph . Strive for the following in each body paragraph:

· A  topic sentence . Each paragraph should have a main or central sentence that clues the reader in to what the paragraph will be about. All the support and arguments within a paragraph should relate to that topic sentence, and all of this should relate back to the thesis as well.

· Support  such as  examples  and/or  source support  such as  expert opinions  and statistics. The source information should be in the form of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes.

· Arguments. Because the essay is trying to prove or support the thesis, each body paragraph should contain arguments that relate back to that thesis. Always follow up quotes with commentary and/or analysis.

On occasion, some genres, such as commentaries, allow for one-sentence paragraphs, but typically each body paragraph will be multiple sentences in length.

Genre-Specific Conventions

It is important when revising to take the genre into consideration. Genres often have unique audiences, purposes, and conventions. See Table 4.3 for examples from this course:

Table 4.3

Genre-Specific Conventions

Genre-Specific Conventions
Genre Type	Purpose	Audience	Conventions
Rhetorical Analysis	To argue about the effectiveness of a written text or speech.	Varies. Examples include students reading argumentative articles for research or people listening to the president of the United States giving a speech.	Relies heavily on ethos, logos, and pathos in order to examine, critique, and/or evaluate what a writer or speaker is communicating.
Review	To evaluate a text or visual, such as a book or movie, for the given audience.	Varies. Examples include consumers reading reviews of products online, readers of book or movie reviews, and viewers of websites.	Uses specific criteria to evaluate the work.
Commentary	To argue for or against a current trend or event.	Viewers and readers of political cartoons, op-eds, editorials, art, and online blogs.	Relies on analyzing and interpreting events or trends to understand why something is happening and to predict future change.

Exercise 2

In this course, you will be assigned to write a rhetorical analysis essay. To help you prepare for this assignment use a piece of paper or your computer to practice working out a topic by answering the following questions:

1. On what topic will you write?

2. What is your purpose?

3. Who is your audience?

4. What is unique about the rhetorical analysis that you should keep in mind while writing the thesis?

5. What is your thesis statement? Write it out.

6. Revise your thesis statement, answering these questions: Is it argumentative? Can it be the central argument of an entire essay? Can it be supported? Does it fulfill the purpose of a rhetorical analysis?

Organization and Flow

When revising the body of the essay, it is important to look at each paragraph individually, and then look at the body as a whole to make sure that the ideas flow from one paragraph to the next.

Individual Paragraphs

Go through each body paragraph and revise and reorganize the sentences within the paragraph. Check that each sentence flows from one to the next in terms of style and logic (do the concepts make sense and flow together?). Use transition words to connect sentences and ideas (ex: therefore, furthermore, in addition, etc…). This revising phase is often when writers cut sentences that do not belong or move sentences to other paragraphs. It helps to read the paragraphs out loud to adjust for this flow. In the example below, note that some words were added (underlined) and some were deleted (crossed out in red):

Figure 4.2

Example of a Revised Paragraph

Body Paragraphs as a Whole

Each paragraph within the body should flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next. Having a basic outline written can help aide in this. Effective flow and organization is created by making sure the concepts and ideas connect.

The overall organization of the body of an essay might vary depending on the genre. See Chapters 8, 9, and 10 for examples of organization based on the genres written in this course.

Sentence Variety

Sentence variety  is writing sentences in a variety of ways so that the text flows and does not sound monotone.

· Poor sentence variety: Revision is when a writer looks for major rewriting. Revision is when a writer looks for organizational problems. The introduction should be catchy. The thesis should be corrected. The tone should be neutral.

· Rewritten for effective sentence variety: Revision is when a writer looks for major rewriting and for organizational problems. The introduction should be catchy, and the thesis should be corrected. In addition, the tone should be neutral.

One way to improve sentence variety is to take a sentence and see how many ways it can be rewritten.

Revision is when a writer looks for major rewriting and for organizational problems.

Rewritten:

· During revision, a writer looks for major rewriting and for organizational problems.

· When a writer looks for major rewriting and for organizational problems, this is known as revision.

· Major rewriting and correcting organizational problems happens during the revision process.

Exercise 3

See how many ways you can rewrite the sentences below:

1. An effective thesis statement often has the following elements: it appears at the end of the introduction, it is argumentative, and it avoids first person.

2. When revising an essay, make sure that each body paragraph has a topic sentence, arguments, and support.

3. Organize your essay effectively. Write an introduction, body, and conclusion. Have support and arguments in the body paragraphs. Rewrite for smooth flow.

Answers to Exercise 3

Answers may vary, but here are a few ways the sentences could have been rewritten:An effective thesis statement often has the following elements: it appears at the end of the introduction, it is argumentative, and it avoids first person.An effective thesis statement often appears at the end of the introduction, is argumentative, and avoids first person.In order for a thesis statement to be effective, it should appear at the end of the introduction, be argumentative, and avoid first person.A thesis statement should appear at the end of the introduction, be argumentative, and avoid first person; these elements make it effective.When revising an essay, make sure that each body paragraph has a topic sentence, arguments, and support. When revising an essay, each body paragraph should have a topic sentence, arguments, and support. During the revision process of an essay, check that each body paragraph has a topic sentence, arguments, and support. Each body paragraph in an essay should have a topic sentence, arguments, and support. Organize your essay effectively. Write an introduction, body, and conclusion. Have support and arguments in the body paragraphs. Rewrite for smooth flow.To organize an essay effectively, write an introduction, body, and conclusion. Be sure to have support and arguments in the body paragraphs, and, once the writer is finished, he or she should rewrite the text to ensure it flows smoothly.Organize the essay effectively; write an introduction, body, and conclusion, and have support and arguments in the body paragraphs. Rewrite to flow smoothly. Write an introduction, body, and conclusion for the essay; this is the proper organization. The body paragraphs should have support and arguments. When the draft is finished, rewrite the text to ensure it flows smoothly.

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Tone and Style

Tone  is the way the text sounds as it is read, often with an emotional charge to it or with an academic, formal voice. When revising for tone and style, a writer should look for instances of inappropriate tone or tone that may come across the wrong way to the reader, especially with passionate or emotionally-charged topics.

Table 4.4

Genre-Specific Tone

Genre-Specific Tone
Genre Type	Incorrect Tone	Reason	Correct Tone
Rhetorical Analysis	Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, I Have a Dream, was emotional and powerful.	Statement discusses pathos but fails to be specific about how the speech was emotional and powerful.	Martin Luther King Jr. in his speech, I Have a Dream, used emotion that Americans of all races could relate to, and he used logic to appeal to those who may not have been moved by emotion.
Review	Batman Returns is a horrible movie.	Statement is overly negative, a generalization, and unspecific.	Batman Returns lacks effective acting, editing, and plot; therefore, it is not a strong movie
Commentary	Terrorism is an awful, horrible thing and needs to be stopped before more people die.	Adjectives describing the trend are general and extreme, and the statement is not specific enough.	Terrorist acts against Western countries have risen sharply in the past decade, and world leaders will have to come together to come up with effective solutions.

Style  is a writer’s voice that sets him or her apart from other writers. It involves a variety of elements such as word choice, tone, and sentence variety. It must fit the genre context, audience, and purpose. When revising for style, look for strong word choice and sentence writing based on the genre.

Exercise 4

Rewrite the following sentences to adjust for a proper academic tone:

· Commercials using women as sex objects are frying people’s brains.

· I absolutely loved the book, The Hunger Games, and I feel it’s the best book out there.

· I’m really tired of movies based on biblical stories that take artistic license to change the story to however they see fit.

Answers to Exercise 4

Answers may vary, but here are a few ways the sentences could have been rewritten for proper academic tone:Commercials using women as sex objects are frying people’s brains.U.S. commercials that use women as sex objects should be better regulated by the FCC.I absolutely loved the book, The Hunger Games, and I feel it’s the best book out there.The Hunger Games may have become a bestselling book because it is filled with well-paced suspense and unique characters.I’m really tired of movies based on biblical stories that take artistic license to change the story to however they see fit.Directors of movies based on biblical stories should take less artistic license to change the story and instead try to stick as close to the original text as possible.

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Transitioning into Quotes

Signal phrases are words used to introduce a quote to the reader. When revising, it is important to look for any quotes that are placed in a paragraph without a signal phrase.

· According to Smith (2014), “Animal-rights activists are…” (p. 4).

· According to one expert, PETA is a source of... (Smith, 2014).

· One environmental expert notes, “Global warming is…” (Smith, 2014, p. 4).

· As noted by an animal-rights organization, using animals to test… (Smith, 2014).

Generalizations and Biases

One of the most common type of errors for writers is using  generalizations  and biases. A writer may directly or indirectly state a claim that implies that “everyone” in that category falls into that claim. This is a generalization.

· Incorrect: Kids who are spoiled grow up to be lazy.

· Correct: Many kids who are spoiled grow up to be lazy.

· Also correct: Often kids who are spoiled grow up to be lazy.

By adding the word many or the often, the sentence is now qualified rather than implying that all kids are this way. Following are more examples:

· Incorrect: All men need to learn how to better communicate.

· Correct: Many men need to learn how to better communicate.

· Incorrect: Women enjoy talking.

· Correct: Most women enjoy talking.

· Incorrect: Americans need to recycle.

· Correct: In almost all instances, Americans should recycle on a regular basis.

When revising an essay, check for generalizations and correct them with qualifiers, or rewrite those sentences.

Bias  is when a writer allows his or her personal opinions/views to cloud language or arguments. A thesis should be argumentative; however, those arguments should be written using logical appeal. When revising for bias, look for words or sentences that seep into personal emotion, or where sources are from biased sources. For example, the word mankind attempts to refer to all humans; however, humankind, the human race, and humanity are less gender-biased options.

Conclusion Content and Style

An essay  conclusion  should re-state the thesis in a unique way and leave readers with a critical concept or change to think about, consider, and/or change their mind. When revising the conclusion:

· Avoid unnecessarily repeating information that does not need to be repeated.

· Avoid adding new information or support.

· Make sure the paragraph is not too underdeveloped or too long.

· Focus on “wrapping up” the essay in a memorable way.

· See if there are any genre-specific elements that may be useful in the conclusion.

Essay Instruction Requirements

During revision it is important to check that all of the instructor’s specific essay requirements have been met. This might include:

· Word count

· Number of sources required

· Type of genre written

· Whether or not the use of first person and personal examples are allowed

· Paper format and layout

· If graphics/visuals can or should be used

Editing

Editing—or proofreading—is the process by which a writer looks for “small picture” items such as  grammar  and  mechanics .

Editing Tips

Some of the best techniques to do first include:

· Run the Microsoft Word spelling/grammar check. Write essays in Microsoft Word (since they are due in this format), and when arriving at the editing process, run the spelling/grammar check.

· Microsoft has many tutorials on its website that show how to use the spell-check function in Microsoft Word.

· Read out loud. Read the essay slowly out loud. While it might seem awkward at first, this is a great way to catch errors.

· Utilize the  tutoring services  provided by GCU’s Academic and Career Excellence Center.

· Participate in peer editing. Even if the course does not require peer editing, consider swapping papers with a classmate or asking a friend or family member to edit the paper.

· Read with “fresh eyes.” It helps to put the essay away for a day or two, then pick it up again and edit it. Having a fresh look often allows writers to find errors.

· Read numerous times. Editing is done best if it is done over and over again. Do not assume that reading through one time will be enough.

Editing Elements

Many students complain they cannot edit because they are not good at grammar and mechanics. However, there are common errors every writer can look for during the editing process.

First, a great way to improve in writing grammar and mechanics is to take free grammar quizzes. The  Grammar Booster  activities in the GCU Student Success Center are helpful grammar explanations and quizzes. The  OWL at Purdue  website also has a lot of good grammar exercises and help.

When editing, a writer should focus on the following elements:

· Grammar

· Sentence fragments

· Run-on sentences

· Verb tense

· First-, second-, and third-person language

· Mechanics

· Punctuation marks

· Capitalization

· Style

· Spacing

· Spelling

· APA or MLA

· Paper formatting and layout

· In-text citations

· Reference or Works Cited page

· Plagiarism

Table 4.5

Common Grammar and Mechanical Errors

Common Grammar and Mechanical Errors
Error Type	What To Look For	Example	Corrected
Sentence fragments	An incomplete sentence, often missing an independent clause.	In one high school, just before the start of the day.	In one high school, just before the start of the day, a shooting occurred.
Run-on sentences	When two or more independent clauses run together without proper punctuation separating them. These can often be corrected by adding a comma and a conjunction (and, or, but), or by using a period.	The animals are in danger, they need to be protected.	The animals are in danger. They need to be protected. OR: The animals are in danger, and they need to be protected
Verb tense	An essay should be written in past tense or present tense, but never both. For general academic APA essays, past tense is used.	Smith (2014) finds this to be true in his research.	Smith (2014) found this to be true in his research.
First-, second-, and third-person language	Avoid using first person (I, me, mine) and second person (you). Write in third person (Americans, men, women, employees, etc…), unless the assignment directions or instructor state otherwise.	My thought is you should consider going to college right after high school.	High school seniors should consider going to college directly after high school graduation.
Punctuation marks	Exclamation points should be used on rare occasion. Commas are used in a series of three or more listed items. Commas are also used to connect two independent clauses. To see if a comma is needed, see if each phrase can stand on its own as a sentence.	This is important research! The key to a successful marriage is communication, respect and forgiveness. Global business development is essential to the economy and it is also important for international relations.	This is important research. The key to a successful marriage is communication, respect, and forgiveness. Global business development is essential to the economy, and it is also important for international relations.
Capitalization	Proper nouns such as people, places, or things should be capitalized, along with the names of books and newspapers. Common nouns such as school are not capitalized; however, the specific name of a school would be capitalized.	The revolutionary war Grand canyon university The new York times president Obama the President	The Revolutionary War Grand Canyon University The New York Times President Obama the president
Style	Book titles, newspaper titles, and journal titles should be in italics.	The Arizona Republic	The Arizona Republic
Spacing	Follow the appropriate formatting guide for spacing. For example, APA requires one space after each period.	Smith ( 2014), found, “ Eighty-five percent of women strongly agree “ ( p. 5).	Smith (2014), found, “Eighty-five percent of women strongly agree” (p. 5).
Spelling	The spelling/grammar check in Microsoft Word should find most misspellings; however, it often will not find words that sound the same but are spelled differently, such as: there, their, they’re too, to, two affect, effect	Early childhood education is important too there development, because it effects their brain stimulation.	Early childhood education is important to their development, because it affects their brain stimulation.
Paper formatting and layout	Follow the appropriate formatting guide for page layout. For example, APA requires Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, and 1/2 inch paragraph indents.	Incorrect font and size	Correct font and size
In-text citations	Follow the appropriate formatting guide for in-text citations.	(AMAZON.COM, 2014, page 5).	(“Amazon,” 2014, para. 22).
Reference page	Follow the appropriate formatting guide for the reference page.	VICKERS, M. Z. (2010). Accommodating College Students with Learning Disabilities: ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia. The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy. Retrieved from http://www.popecenter.org/acrobat/vickers-mar2010.pdf	Vickers, M. Z. (2010). Accommodating college students with learning disabilities: ADD, ADHD, and dyslexia. The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy. Retrieved from http://www.popecenter.org/acrobat/vickers-mar2010.pdf
Plagiarism	Look to make sure that any phrases or sentences taken from a source word-for-word are in quotation marks. For paraphrases and summaries, check that they have been thoroughly rewritten in a unique way. Quotes, paraphrases, and summaries all need in-text citations.	Direct quote: “Harriet Beecher Stowe was inspired to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin after having a vision during a church service.” Paraphrase that is too closely worded: Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin after she had a vision during a church service.	Paraphrased better: Harriet Beecher Stowe encountered slavery in many instances in her life, but decided to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin after she had a vision during church.

Exercise 5

Correct the following grammatical errors:

1. Spelling: They’re concern was valid, but it was to extreme.

2. Fragment: When people divide on the issue.

3. Run-on: Change can happen with education it can make a huge difference.

4. Verb tense: The researcher discovers startling statistics in his research.

5. Punctuation marks and capitalization: The civil war was the biggest and deadliest war to take place on american soil

Answers to Exercise 5

1. Spelling: Their concern was valid, but it was too extreme.

2. Sentence fragment: Problems can happen when people divide on the issue.

3. Run-on sentence: Change can happen with education. Education can make a huge difference.

4. Verb tense: The researcher discovered startling statistics in his research.

5. Punctuation marks and capitalization: The Civil War was the biggest and deadliest war to take place on American soil.

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Revision and Editing Checklist

This comprehensive checklist includes all the areas of revision and editing for the essays assigned for this course and for future course essays.

General Revision and Editing Checklist

Conclusion

In order to become an effective writer, writers should take time to revise and edit a written work numerous times. Even the most famous writers revise and edit their work over and over again. There are many elements to look for during revision and editing, so it helps to have a checklist of what to look for during the process. Using revision and editing guidelines can strengthen the writing and make the writing more effective for the audience.

Chapter Review

When revising and editing written works, keep in mind these important points:

· Revision and editing are important for all levels of writers.

· Revision is changing big picture items such as organization and flow. Editing is correcting details such as grammar and punctuation.

· Revise an introduction so that it is engaging to the reader and uses appropriate tone.

· Revise a thesis statement to make sure it is argumentative and fits the genre.

· Revise body paragraphs for topic sentences, support, and arguments.

· Revise tone for purpose and audience.

· Revise sentences for flow, sentence variety, and style.

· Revise to ensure proper transition into quotes and use of in-text citations for quotes, paraphrases, and summaries.

· Revise to avoid generalizations and biases.

· Revise conclusions so that the conclusion wraps up the topic in a memorable way.

· Edit for spelling errors, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and verb tense errors.

· Edit for proper style (such as APA) for the citations and reference page.

· Use the comprehensive revision and editing checklist for the course essays.

Questions for Reflection

In this chapter you learned about revision and editing, and you practiced those concepts. Reflect on what you have read and on the exercises you have completed. Answer the following:

1. What was the most important concept about revision and/or editing that you learned and feel will help you during the writing process?

2. The thesis statement is a very important part of an essay and should be revised for effectiveness; what did you learn that you feel will help you the most as you edit the thesis?

3. Were there any grammar issues you know you have had, but you learned here how to correct them?

Key Terms

Arguments: Giving a reason in order to persuade someone.

Bias: When a writer allows his or her personal opinions to cloud the arguments.

Generalization: When a writer directly or indirectly states a claim that implies that everyone in that category falls into that claim.

Genre: Categories of writing identified by similar subject matter, forms, or styles.

Grammar: Includes writing details related to English rules such as spelling, verb tenses, fragments, and run-ons.

Editing: The act of reading written material that has been revised and correcting conventions related to grammar and mechanics.

Examples: Giving a statement or story that helps to explain and/or support a point.

Expert Opinions: Professionals with experience and/or degrees in their field who have conducted research and published that research with results that can be used as support in argumentative writing.

Mechanics: Includes writing details such as punctuation marks, spacing, formatting, and layout.

Revision: The act of reading written material and rewriting and changing areas that need to be corrected.

Sentence Variety: Writing sentences in a variety of ways so that the text flows and does not sound monotone.

Source Support: Using credible sources, such as peer reviewed journals, that contain definitions, statistics, case studies, quotes, expert research, and facts.

Style: A writer’s voice that sets him or her apart from other writers and involves a variety of elements such as word choice, tone, and sentence variety. It must fit the genre context, audience, and purpose.

Support: To assist and defend a point (argument) so that it holds up and proves to be accurate.

Tone: The way the text sounds as it is read, often with either an emotional charge to it or with an academic, formal voice.

Topic Sentence: The main or central sentence in a paragraph that clues the reader in to what the paragraph will cover. Typically, every body paragraph begins with a topic sentence.

Reference

Zinsser, W. (2006). On writing well: The classic guide to writing nonfiction (7th ed.). New York, NY: HarperCollins.

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