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Revision Strategies for Clear & Concise Writing

Tags

ELA: Writing ^21st Century Skills All Ages Strategy

Skills

Flexible Thinking Organization Verbal Reasoning

Revision Strategies for Clear & Concise Writing

If your student has difficulty editing their own writing

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Students will be able to determine where they have gone off topic or wrote too much when self-editing.
  2. Model and Practice: Work through a writing sample with students using the following steps: a)Underline or highlight your paper's main point. What is it you want the reader to know above all else? b) Read each paragraph and ask yourself, "Does this support or help the reader understand my main point?" "If I cut this, would the reader still understand?" c) Cross out based on your answers. Save the ideas just in case you change your mind or want to modify them. d) Read your paper with the cuts made. Does it still make sense and flow logically? e) If you're unsure about some ideas, highlight them and ask your teacher, friend or parent for feedback.

*print* Student Checklist: Revise For Clear Writing

  1. Underline or highlight your paper's main point
  2. Read each paragraph and ask, "Does this help the reader understand my main point?" and "If I cut this, would the reader still understand?"
  3. Cross out based on your answers
  4. Read your paper with any cuts made. Does it still make sense and flow logically?
  5. If you are unsure about some ideas, highlight them and ask your teacher or friend for feedback

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Communicating in writing is always more effective when it is concise and clear. When in the revising process, you will find that there are pieces you can cut if you go through your writing systematically and ask yourself how a part adds or does not add to supporting or communicating your main point or argument.