Writing - Revising and Editing - Quick Guides

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Study GuideWriting–Revising and Editing1.Quiz: TitlesQuestion 1Complete the following statement:A good essay title should ________Answer Choices• be very general and formal in tone so as not to offend readers.• be funny enough to make readers laugh and want to read the essay.• balance cleverness with an appropriate tone for the essay topic.Correct Answerbalance cleverness with an appropriate tone for the essay topic.Why This Is Correct• Effective titles engage readers without misleading them.• Tone should match the subject and purpose of the essay.Question 2Which of the following would be a good title for aserious analysis of race, class, and injusticeinHarper Lee's novelTo Kill a Mockingbird, set in the Deep South in the 1930s?Answer Choices•To Kill a Mockingbird: Justice on Trial: One Man, One Child, One Town•To Kill a Mockingbird: Bird Watching in the 1930s•To Kill a Mockingbird: The Life and Times of a Southern Writer

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Study GuideCorrect AnswerTo Kill a Mockingbird: Justice on Trial: One Man, One Child, One TownWhy This Is Correct• The title reflects the novel’s central themes.• It is serious, specific, and relevant to literary analysis.Question 3Which of the following isTRUE?Answer Choices• The best time to come up with a title is right after you choose a topic for your paper.• Write the title after you have proofread the final draft and you're ready to turn in the paper.• If you think of a title while writing a first draft, jot it down so you can refine it by the final draft.Correct AnswerIf you think of a title while writing a first draft, jot it down so you can refine it by the final draft.Why This Is Correct• Titles often evolve as ideas develop.• Early ideas can be improved once the paper is complete.Question 4Which of the following isFALSE?Answer Choices• All writing assignments need titles, especially timed essays.• Not all writing assignments need to have a title or a subtitle.• A good title leads the reader into the context and topic of the story.

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Study GuideCorrect AnswerAll writing assignments need titles, especially timed essays.Why This Is Correct• Some assignments, such as in-class or timed essays, may not require titles.• Titles are useful, but not always mandatory.2.Reviewing the First DraftWhen you review your first draft, this is where thebig improvementsusually happen. Revising ismore than fixing small mistakes—it’s your chance to make your ideas clearer and stronger. Thesuggestions below can help you review your draft more effectively.2.1Take a Break Before ReviewingIf you can, wait a little while before rereading your first draft. Even a short break helps you return toyour writing withfresh eyes, making it easier to notice problems or areas that need improvement.2.2Read Your Paper AloudReading your draft out loud can be very helpful. Your ears may catch:•Awkward sentences•Missing words•Repetition or unclear ideasSometimes you hear problems that you don’t notice when reading silently.2.3Get Feedback from OthersAsk someone you trust to read your draft and give you feedback. This could be a classmate, friend, orfamily member.

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Study GuideKeep in mind:•You wanthonest and objective advice, not just compliments•You don’t have to use every suggestion•Think carefully about the feedback and decide what works best for your paper2.4Be Open to Big ChangesNothing in your first draft is permanent. Until you turn in the final draft, you can change:•Your thesis statement•Organization•Emphasis•ToneRevising is not just about fixing grammar or spelling. Focus on improving ideas and structure first.3.Preparing the Final DraftWhen you finish your first draft, you might be ready to move straight to the final version. But mostcareful writers go through several drafts before they feel satisfied. Each time you revise, you maynotice long-winded phrases, awkward sentences, weak connections, or other problems that needfixing.3.1Writing and Editing Your DraftYou can start by jotting notes or making an outline by hand, but using a computer for your first draft isoften easier. It keeps your work legible and makes editing faster. You can fix small issues immediatelyas you notice them on screen.For bigger edits, many writers prefer printing out sections or even the whole draft. Then, they markchanges by hand and return to the computer to implement them. Why?1.Better focus:On a screen, it’s easy to get lost in long texts.2.Slower, careful reading:Typing is often faster than thinking. Printing forces you to slowdown and pay attention.Remember: good writing needs thought, careful judgment, and time.

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Study Guide3.2Using Spell-Check, Grammar-Check, and Search-and-ReplaceSpell-check:This is great for catching typos, repeated words (like “the the”), and obviousmisspellings. But it won’t catch every mistake. For example, typingforminstead offromwon’t trigger awarning. Also, words that sound alike but have different meanings—likeits/it'sortheir/there/they’re—won’t always be caught. Always proofread carefully, even if your spell-check shows no errors.Grammar-check:These tools are trickier. They can catch pronoun errors or simple mistakes, but theyoften miss more complex issues like dangling participles or faulty parallelism. Some grammar-checkers flag things that are actually fine, like starting a sentence withandorbut, ending with apreposition, or using contractions. Use grammar-check carefully and don’t rely on it completely.Search-and-replace:This tool lets you fix the same error throughout your paper automatically. But becareful! Using “Replace All” without checking can create new mistakes. Always review each instancebefore replacing it.3.3Creating the Final Draft and LayoutYour computer’s word processor can help you make a professional-looking final draft. If you’resubmitting a paper for a class, check your instructor’s formatting requirements. Common rulesinclude:•Times New Roman, 12-point font•Double spacing•1-inch margins•Page numbers and running heads•A title page (if required)Word processors also help with MLA, APA, or other style guidelines.If it fits your paper, you can include tables, charts, graphs, or images. But don’t go overboard withfonts, colors, or design elements. A neat appearance is nice, but it can’t make up for unclear ideas.Too many fancy elements—bold, italics, bullets, or colored text—can actually distract readers. Focusfirst on clear writing, then on presentation.

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