8 page assignment MLA format nutrition
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english_1b_ppt.zipRevising strategies.pptx
Revising strategies
The LONG Research Paper
First. Things. First.
Do NOT revise your essay via one colossal “all-nighter”.
Forget the “study drugs” and think “strategy”
Question: Why revise first, edit second?
Start with a few short revision sessions…
Key Questions to Ask:
1. What is my thesis? Is it clearly-worded and easy to spot?
2. Is my essay unified?
3. Is my essay organized clearly?
4. Do I develop each supporting point?
5. Do I integrate research smoothly?
6. Do I use MANY transitional words and expressions?
7. Do I present the material interestingly?
TIP: Tackle 1 or 2 per session…
Writers get overwhelmed (and miss more “issues” if they try to analyze 7+ pages for “everything”.)
(“Overwhelmed”=Procrastination=Low Scores)
Sample Agenda:
Mon. night: Work 20 minutes on unity
Tues. day: Work 20 minutes on coherence
Tues. night: Work 20 minutes on development
Ridiculously-Simple Unity
Word your thesis simply, and have it be the last sentence in your introduction.
With every “new” topic, start a new paragraph and have a simple topic sentence.
Follow the general pattern: T.S. first, followed by supporting details.
Alter it as needed to reflect the essay as a whole.
TIP: Review your thesis statement RIGHT BEFORE you print your essay
Ridiculously-Simple Coherence
Get out the “transitions” reference sheet. Add as many transitions as you can from as many categories as you can.
Put some at the beginning, some in the middle, and some at the end of sentences.
NEVER “drop quotes”; and spend twice as much energy integrating sources as you think necessary.
Ridiculously-Simple Development
The majority of your essay is developing each topic sentence. But your simplest way to expand development happens to be one of the less time-consuming ones:
EXAMPLES!!!
You will have a well-developed essay as long as you outlined. If you didn’t, this part of revision will be a huge chore.
Editing refers to changes made in order to make your essay “correct”: sentence structure, punctuation, mechanics, grammar, etc.
Proofreading refers to the final time you read the paper prior to submitting it.
FYI…
Editing: Where should you start?
Sentence structure
Grammar
Mechanics
Punctuation
“Drum roll, please…”
Sentence structure
Faulty Parallelism
Jumbled Syntax
Run Ons
Fragments
Wordy sentences
Dangling/
Misplaced Modifier s
Sentence-Level Editing Goes Next
Start with 1 or 2 of your weaknesses.
For example…do one read-through each for:
Apostrophes
Capitalization
Commas
TIP: If you use a tutor (friend, family member, etc.), ask them to look for a couple of specific errors.
Style & professionalism
And now for the final push…
You’re done with the heavy lifting now. Set your brain on “auto-pilot” and follow these tips for
GUARANTEED
points.
The “Instant Style” Toolkit
“Style in 1 hour or less”
Add…
Examples
1. A few adverbs
2. One ellipsis
One parenthetical aside
One dash
One semicolon
3. One rhetorical question
Clearly, Importantly, Obviously
… slows down reading
( blah blah) Adds side note
--creates emphasis
; shows related ideas
Adds variety and interest
Final Words of Encouragement…
Succeeding on a long paper is not about “natural ability” or “creativity”
—or even sentence skills.
It’s about systematically organizing, revising, and editing. It’s about using every technique and strategy available—and working through the entire process. Each time will get easier.
Those who “work hard” AND “work smart” will triumph.
