Warm-Up10/26/11 Please write a paragraph telling me what you should look for when editing a piece of writing. Please write a paragraph telling me what you should look for when editing a piece of writing. If you DO NOT have your “This I Believe” essay printed off, but have it completed, please come and see me. If you DO NOT have your “This I Believe” essay printed off, but have it completed, please come and see me.

Today’s Objective 10/26/11 Know: How to effectively edit a piece of writing Know: How to effectively edit a piece of writing Understand: Editing is an essential and necessary part of the writing process. Understand: Editing is an essential and necessary part of the writing process. Do: You will edit your “This I Believe” essay. Do: You will edit your “This I Believe” essay.

Today’s Agenda 10/26/11 “This I Believe” Seven Layer Editing Workshop “This I Believe” Seven Layer Editing Workshop “This I Believe” Peer Editing Workshop “This I Believe” Peer Editing Workshop Homework: Homework: –“This I Believe” Essay Due Thursday/Friday

Seven Layer Editing Mr. Thomas

You will need: 7 different colors 7 different colors Your rough draft Your rough draft A legend on your paper A legend on your paper

Step 1: HOOK AND OPENING Color: Color: Circle the hook or attention-getter in the introductory paragraph. Circle the hook or attention-getter in the introductory paragraph. –Will this grab the reader’s attention? Is this general? Does this make sense?

Step 2: THESIS STATEMENT/STATEMENT OF BELIEF Color: Color: Underline the thesis statement/statement of belief in the essay. This DOES NOT have to be in the introductory paragraph Underline the thesis statement/statement of belief in the essay. This DOES NOT have to be in the introductory paragraph

Step 3: NO EXCUSES WORDS Color: Color: Highlight all NO EXCUSES WORDS even if they are correct Highlight all NO EXCUSES WORDS even if they are correct their, there, they’re, too, two, to,its, it’s, cause, because, were, where, which, witch, weather, whether, a lot, does, dose, have vs. of, loose, lose, than, then their, there, they’re, too, two, to,its, it’s, cause, because, were, where, which, witch, weather, whether, a lot, does, dose, have vs. of, loose, lose, than, then

Step 4: APOSTROPHES Color: Color: Circle ALL APOSTROPHES (possessive and contraction). Circle ALL APOSTROPHES (possessive and contraction). -possessive example: That is John’s ball -contraction example: He isn’t going with us.

Step 5: COMMAS Color: Color: Circle all commas used. Then read your essay and highlight where you feel commas may be necessary where you tend to pause. Circle all commas used. Then read your essay and highlight where you feel commas may be necessary where you tend to pause.

Step 6: SENTENCE STARTERS Color: Color: Look over the beginning words of all your sentences, circle similar beginnings and connect. Look over the beginning words of all your sentences, circle similar beginnings and connect. Do the same for paragraphs Do the same for paragraphs Make sure that you aren’t repetitive in your writing. Make sure that you aren’t repetitive in your writing. Did you include transitions? Did you include transitions?

Step 7: INTENSIFIERS, OVERUSED WORDS AND JUNK Color: Color: Be specific! Avoid words such as things or stuff. Be specific! Avoid words such as things or stuff. Intensifiers: word used indicating increased emphasis or force. Intensifiers: word used indicating increased emphasis or force. Weak Intensifier Examples: Weak Intensifier Examples: –She was real nice to us. –I liked that car a lot. –That was a wicked bad exam. –It’s pretty late. Cross out words like stuff, things, a lot, anyway, gonna, really, fun, get, very, quite, pretty, too, awful, real, so. Cross out words like stuff, things, a lot, anyway, gonna, really, fun, get, very, quite, pretty, too, awful, real, so. Circle your two best words that you used in your essay (do you have high quality word choice?) Circle your two best words that you used in your essay (do you have high quality word choice?)

Peer Edit Now that you have edited your own paper with the seven layers, switch papers with a partner. Now that you have edited your own paper with the seven layers, switch papers with a partner. Look over your partner’s paper with the Writer’s Workshop/edit sheet provided. On the rubric make at least one comment for each of the sections to be graded. Look over your partner’s paper with the Writer’s Workshop/edit sheet provided. On the rubric make at least one comment for each of the sections to be graded.

Peer Edit #2 Trade papers with a new student Trade papers with a new student Read the paper without marking it and at the end summarize the essay in two sentences. Do not use the author’s “I Believe” statement in your summary Read the paper without marking it and at the end summarize the essay in two sentences. Do not use the author’s “I Believe” statement in your summary Write down two things that stand out about this essay: word choice, an example, explanation, hook, etc.. Write down two things that stand out about this essay: word choice, an example, explanation, hook, etc.. Discuss what you found with your partner Discuss what you found with your partner