Sit in a circle. When you hear the “laser,” the slide has changed. Look up and do the next thing.

Excerpted and adapted from “Brilliant Revision Worksheet”

 You are about to put a lot of work into this paper. Grumble silently.  By the time your paper gets to me, it should be as near to perfection as you can make it.

 Review your thesis. Give yourself something to prove. If the thesis is obvious, then there is no reason for the reader to continue with the rest of the paper.  Underline all literary devices explained (i.e. setting, characterization, atmosphere, structure, figurative language, etc.)

 Cross out the words “you” and “I.”  Cross out all weak language like “I think” or “I believe.”

 Read through it again. Make sure all your verbs are present tense.  Eliminate run on and fragment sentences.

 Be sure that “it’s” is used as “it is” and that “its” shows possession.  Be sure that “there,” “their,” and “they’re” are used correctly.

 Use the author’s complete or last name when you refer to him/her.  Underline the title of full-length works (if we were typing this, you’d italicize them).

Silent time – if you are talking, you’re not giving enough of your attention to the work.

 Write your name on the top of the paper next to a number indicating which peer editor you are.  You may find it easier to read through once, highlighting all the issues of the types you’re looking for, and then making suggestions next to those areas afterwards.  If you do highlight, try to use a different color for each editor.  If you see any misspellings, circle them (regardless of which editor you are).  Comments may be made directly on the author’s paper.

 Look for weak words that don’t embody the idea. An outstanding paper has powerful vocabulary that stimulates the reader and conveys the intended meaning in an interesting and natural way. Give suggestions.  Look for weak sentences that don’t flow well or are too long to make any sense. An outstanding paper has an easy flow and sentence sense that makes the text easy to read aloud. Give suggestions.

 Look for language or sentence structure that is too informal for an academic essay. Fix it.  Look for statements that are not supported. These statements should either be cut or developed. Make suggestions.

 Look at the structure of the essay. Should the paragraphs be switched around? The piece should have a strong sense of direction, balance, and flow. This is more complicated than it sounds in this essay that may use many different quotations. They should be artfully woven together.  Look at the transition sentence at the beginning of every body paragraph and the conclusion. Does it link the two paragraphs in a logical and fluent way? Give suggestions.

 Look at the introduction. It should be inviting and should make a statement that is beyond the obvious, that has to be proven. Make some evaluative comments.  Look at the conclusion. It should be satisfying and should not simply repeat the introduction. Make it thoughtful and leave the reader with a new idea to ponder. Make some evaluative comments.

 Read through your comments and reflect:  What you did well  What you still need to improve on  If you need clarification from an editor, ask quietly.  Read through the rubric and score yourself against the each criterion.

 typed or handwritten in ink  double-spaced for both  proper MLA formatting (including Works Cited) – checklist on the back of the rubric  hard copy  returned with rough draft and self/peer editing  Due: by start of class 20 September 2013