The Writing Process: Revising, Editing and Proofreading

1. The Writing Process: Revising, Editing and Proofreading • Student Development Services • Writing Support Centre • UCC 210 • www.sds.uwo.ca/writing

2. Outline • An Editor’s Mindset • Revising • Editing • Proofreading

3. An Editor’s Mindset • Essential component of the writing process • Similar to, yet different from, drafting • Same goals • Usually a different process • Polishing rather than creating • Depends if editing for yourself or a peer

4. Self Editing Issues • Give yourself some space... • ...But not too much • Learn your tendencies • What are your goals?

5. Peer Editing Issues • Degree of help needed • Amount of time before submission • Balance criticisms with compliments

6. Procuring Peer Editors • Writers need readers • Good editors are worth their weight in gold • Don’t abuse them; give them your best work

7. 4- Content 3- Organization 2- Style 1- Appearance Rewriting Revising Editing Proofreading Layers of Effective Writing

8. Revising For Organization • Moving around and adding/removing major pieces of text • Most important aspect • Hard, but rewarding

9. 1: Elements of the Text • Thesis Statement/Hypothesis/Objectives • Introduction/Conclusion • Topic Sentences

10. 2: Logical Flow • Linear process: A → B → C → D • Does the content build on itself?

11. 3: Discipline-Specific Conventions • “Rules” that are not to be violated • E.g. No results in methods, discussion in results (Sciences)

12. 4: Audience Appropriateness • Will the content be clear for the intended audience?

13. Revising Yourself • A detached perspective is essential • Get to the essence of the text

14. Revising Peers • Keep a safe distance • Ask specific questions, don’t rewrite

15. Procuring Peers • Within-discipline peers are most helpful • Outside-discipline peers may need help

16. Editing for Style • Micro-logical aspects of the text • Is this readable? • What style is appropriate? • Do the sentences flow?

17. Clarity • If it can be misinterpreted, it is wrong • Make changes to vague, absolute, misleading, and commonly misinterpreted words

18. Conciseness • If words or phrases can be removed while maintaining meaning, do it • Change passive voice, negative form

19. General Editing Tips • Read aloud • Hard copy vs. Electronic • Tracking changes

20. Tracking Changes

21. Editing Yourself • Again, time and space is essential • Learn your tendencies

22. Editing Your Peers • Edit, don’t rewrite • Keep the spirit, just play with the words

23. Procuring Peer Editors • Within discipline: Help with discipline-specific terminology • Outside of discipline: Won’t get distracted by content

24. Proofreading for Appearance • Grammar, spelling, formatting • Spellcheck and grammar check are not enough • Read each word and sentence carefully • Usually the last step

25. Proofreading Yourself • Best results when rested • Learn your common mistakes • Last thing you do before handing in or submitting

26. Proofreading Your Peers • Only if other aspects are clean • Point out repeated mistakes • Can feel like “piling on”

27. Procuring Proofreading Peers • Within-Discipline: Can be a waste • Outside-Discipline: • Anal retentive friends • Essential for ESL students

28. General Proofreading Tips • Read aloud • Read backwards • Watch every comma (and other punctuation) • Hard copy vs. Electronic

29. Final Notes • Take a break in the middle • Review multiple drafts • Be nice to your editors