Assignment 1.6: Write it Up

REVISING

Writers revise by adding, deleting, changing, and rearranging written work. Suggestions for revision may be given by a peer or group of peers, or the teacher. As well, you as the author may often see possible changes as you look at your writing from another perspective, or on another day. The purpose of revising is to make changes to improve your writing. During revision you can:

• Take something out
• Put something new in
• Change the order
• Substitute one word for another

EDITING AND PROOFREADING

Editing is revision at a more detailed level. When you edit, you review your paper, looking for smaller elements than you do when you revise. Editing involves asking whether you have made mistakes that might confuse or puzzle you reader. It also means asking yourself whether you have used the best language to express your ideas and experiences. You want to ensure that your writing is logical and clear so that it is understood by your audience.

Editing is not the same as proofreading. When you proofread , you look for mechanical, grammatical, and punctuation errors. For example, pay attention to misused homonyms, such as their, there and they're.

Don't trust that your computer spell-checker will find all the mistakes – check for yourself, or ask for help!  Try using an online editing site, if you're not sure.  

You should self-edit first and then allow a peer, teacher, parent or caregiver check your writing activity.  Practice the skills you learned in the grammar review unit.

• Use a dictionary to check your spelling.
• Make sure all sentences are complete.
• Check your capitalization and punctuation.

Review this editing checklist.