Tips for Editing an Essay Learning Assistance & Tutorial Center Mission College To view this presentation, click your space bar or arrow keys.

What is editing? It is important to distinguish editing from writing : – Writing is the creation and arrangement of your ideas. – Editing is the review and modification of your ideas to make them stronger and more effective. Example of sentence editing: Original sentence: Chemistry is something you have to use in metal finishing so you can make sure the quality of what you’re doing is good. Use of 2 nd person sounds weaker. Sounds more professional and powerful, doesn’t it? Edited sentence: Chemistry is important to metal finishers to ensure the quality control of processes.

What is editing? Editing is the last of the 3 steps of writing an essay. It follows planning and writing. It is a long process; you should budget about 25% of your time towards it.

When and how should I edit? Begin editing after –you have finished your rough draft. –you have all of your main points and details in complete sentences. Edit by going over your essay at least three times, with three different approaches…

Three different approaches in editing 1.Make sure it accurately follows the instructor’s assignment and specifications ( analyze, describe, compare/contrast, etc.) 2.Review from the beginning to the end for “Big Picture” issues 3.Review from the end to the beginning for “Smaller Picture” issues

Approach 1: Following the Assignment Make sure it accurately follows the instructor’s assignment and specifications –Look at the “operative” words such as analyze, compare and contrast, describe, argue, etc. –Make sure your language and organization follow that assignment pattern Did you describe when you should have analyzed ? Did you compare when you should have argued ?

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic Length and development Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness Essay structure Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis: clear? Consistent? Powerfully written? Topic Length and development Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness Essay structure Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic: follows assignment? Focused? Length and development Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness Essay structure Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic Length and development: long enough? Well- supported? Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness Essay structure Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic Length and development Logic and critical thinking: believable? Avoids generalization and stereotypes? Voice and audience awareness Essay structure Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic Length and development Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness: appealing tone? Avoids slang? Explains special terms? Essay structure Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic Length and development Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness Essay structure: effective title? Introduction appealing, not misleading? Conclusion satisfying? Organization If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 2: “Big Picture” issues Thesis Topic Length and development Logic and critical thinking Voice and audience awareness Essay structure Organization: correct paragraphing? Smooth transitions? Follows a logical process? If you don’t have these, you don’t have an essay.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems: subject/verb or pronoun pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems: subject/verb or pronoun pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts: tense shifts, verb ending problems, or person/number shifts sentence boundaries sentence style diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries: run-ons, fragments, comma splices sentence style diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style: variety of sentence types diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style: variety of sentence types diction and word choice: confusing words with similar spellings or sounds, etc. punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style: variety of sentence types diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics: commas, semi- colons, apostrophes, capitalization, etc. use of sources and citations/works cited page Without these, your message is less effective.

Approach 3: “Smaller Picture” issues agreement problems pronoun case and reference problems incorrect shifts sentence boundaries sentence style: variety of sentence types diction and word choice punctuation and mechanics use of sources and citations/works cited page: follows appropriate format for all sources Without these, your message is less effective.

Techniques for Approach 1: Assignment Accuracy Look at the original language from the assignment (your teacher’s handout or assignment from the book). Imagine you are your teacher. What are you expecting from this paper?

Techniques for Approach 2: Big Picture Compare your thesis and outline with your essay –Did you develop it the way you outlined it? –Did you stick to your thesis? –Did you support all of your points? Brainstorm questions that your reader might have –Have you argued all of your points completely? –Did you use sources that cannot be questioned? –Does what you have written leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction?

Techniques for Approach 3: Smaller Picture Read backwards and read out loud 1.Pick a random paragraph and choose the last sentence in it. 2.Read it out loud and listen to yourself as you read. Does the sentence sound grammatically good to you? If not, make corrections. 3.Move to the sentence directly before that one and read it out loud. 4.By doing this, you are making the sentences stand out more clearly, enabling you to “hear” any problems in grammar.

Summary The time you spend editing can result in a better essay with a better grade Edit for WHAT you want to say (“Big Picture” issues) Edit for HOW you are saying it (“Smaller Picture” issues) Imagine how the reader will react to your writing

Good work! The writing process is a way for you to express your ideas! Enjoy it! Workshop for LATC by L. Sippel, 2003