Grable 1 Savannah Grable Professor Juarez English 001 December 2nd, 2013 Revision !

"rucial Par# of #he $ri#ing Process Revision seems #o be some#hing #ha# man% s#uden# &ri#ers overloo' and regard as unim(or#an#) *f#en, revision seems li'e an e+#ra s#e( #ha# #he% don,# &an# #o bo#her &i#h because i# -us# #a'es more #ime) .hus, s#uden#s &ri#e off #his im(or#an# s#e( of &ri#ing as some#hing #ha# doesn,# a((l% #o #heir &or') S(ea'ing from (ersonal e+(erience, s#uden#s #end #o be laz% once #he%,ve &ri##en a draf#) .he%,ve finished #he (a(er, have #he% no#/ 0# is good enough) .his laz% men#ali#% has no# onl% con#ribu#ed #o #he do&nfall of revision, bu# #o #he increase of (oorl% &ri##en (a(ers amongs# college com(osi#ion s#uden#s) $ha# s#uden#s don,# realize is #ha# revision can ac#uall% be #heir bes# friend) Revision gives s#uden#s a chance #o edi# #heir &or' and ma'e im(rovemen#s #o crea#e a be##er (iece of &ri#ing) $ha# scholars have caugh# on#o #ha# s#uden#s have no# is #he value of revision i#self) Revision is one of #he mos# useful &ri#ing com(osi#ion #ools available, and man% scholars have (roven #his (oin#) 1anc% Sommers, former Direc#or of "om(osi#ion a# 2niversi#% of *'lahoma, s#udied #he (a##erns and com(le+i#ies of revision amongs# s#uden#s in com(arison #o e+(erienced &ri#ers) Sommers s#a#es in her essa% 3Revision S#ra#egies of S#uden# $ri#ers and E+(erienced !dul# $ri#ers4 #ha# 3s#uden#s unders#and #he revision (rocess as a re&ording ac#ivi#%) .ha# is, #he% concen#ra#e on (ar#icular &ords a(ar# from #heir role in #he #e+#4 53617) .he reason #ha# #his is harmful #o &ri#ing is because i# means #ha# #he meaning of #he #e+# can some#imes be los# in revision) 8or e+am(le, a s#uden# migh# #hin' 3#his &ord sounds s#range &i#h #he &ords

Grable 2 surrounding i#)4 .ha# s#uden# &ould (robabl% change #he &ord #o some#hing else and move on) .he (roblem &i#h #his #%(e of change is #ha# of#en #he &ord ma% sound be##er, bu# i# can conve% a com(le#el% differen# meaning &i#hin #he con#e+# of #he en#ire sen#ence) 9a%be #he sen#ence read 3#he bar#ender loo'ed lonel% as he closed for #he nigh#4 and #he s#uden# changed i# #o 3#he bar#ender loo'ed solemn as he closed for #he nigh#)4 .he &ord 3solemn4 ma% sound more 3in#ellec#ual4 bu# i# com(le#el% changes #he meaning of #he sen#ence) !no#her (oin# Sommers ma'es is #ha# revision is uni:ue in #ha# i# allo&s #he &ri#er #o be able #o revise #heir &ords in a &a% #ha# is im(ossible &i#h s(eech 53;<7) Some s#uden#s sa% #ha# essa%s #hemselves are an#i:ua#ed because (eo(le don,# s(end #heir #ime &i#h o#hers &ri#ing, #he% s(end i# conversing) 0n s(eech, ho&ever, one canno# sim(l% bac's(ace and s#ar# over again) Sommers s#a#es #ha# 3revision in s(eech sim(l% becomes an af#er#hough# 53;<74) .his means #ha# in s(eech, revision is sim(l% adding #o #he &ords #ha# have alread% been said in an effor# #o revo'e #he un&an#ed (ar#s from #he dialogue) 0n &ri#ing, revision is some#hing #ha# is discree# and is no# eviden# &i#hou# #he (resence of a firs# draf#) Revision in &ri#ing is a #ool used no# #o cover u( &ords #ha# have alread% been said, bu# #o im(rove or remove #he &ords #ha# &ere (reviousl% #here) 0 #hin' #ha# Sommers is defini#el% on #o some#hing &hen she #al's abou# #he fac# #ha# revision is valuable in #ha# i# gives #he &ri#er a chance #o ac#uall% change #heir &ords) 0# seems li'e a lo# of s#uden#s choose #o overloo' revision because #he% don,# see #he value #ha# lies &i#hin i#) 0# gives s#uden#s #he o((or#uni#% #o im(rove ever%#hing #he% &ri#e, &he#her i#,s during #he rough draf# or af#er #he final draf#) Revision can occur a# an% s#age of &ri#ing, even af#er #he final draf# has been submi##ed and #he s#uden# is 3done)4 0n &ri#ing, #here is al&a%s room for im(rovemen# &i#h revision) 0f s#uden#s can overcome #he ini#ial laziness #ha# #he% face &hen

Grable 3 #he%,re &ri#ing, revision reall% can change bo#h #he level of &ri#ing e+(er#ise, and #he grade #he% receive) $ha# s#uden#s don,# realize is #ha# revision isn,# -us# an e+#ra s#e(= i#,s an addi#ional #ool #o im(rove #he grade on a (a(er or on an essa%) 0 #hin' #ha# #his is one of #he reasons #ha# s#uden#s don,# (ar#icularl% value revision= #he% don,# unders#and #he benefi#s #ha# come from i#) 0 ascer#ained from #his #e+# #ha# revision is some#hing #ha# is useful and a((licable #o m% life as a s#uden#, in an% &ri#ing si#ua#ion) 0# gives me #he chance #o con#inue #o im(rove in m% &ri#ing) Revision is some#hing #ha# 0 can and should #a'e advan#age of because of ho& much (o&er i# holds in &ri#ing) 0 can use i# #o i#s fulles# e+#en# in &ri#ing, some#hing #ha# is no# (ossible in s(eech) 0f 0 am able #o im(lemen# #he righ# s#ra#egies &i#hin m% o&n &ri#ing, 0 believe #ha# revision can be #he secre# #o m% success) !no#her o(inion on revision comes from Jose(h >arris, direc#or of #he "en#er for .eaching, ?earning, and $ri#ing a# Du'e 2niversi#%) 0n 3Revision as a "ri#ical Prac#ice4 >e #al's abou# #eaching s#uden#s #o 3&ri#e as cri#ics4 &hile revising, and #ha# revision needs #o be some#hing #ha# s#uden#s no# -us# #hin' abou#, bu# some#hing #ha# becomes li'e a cri#ical (rac#ice ever% #ime #he% &ri#e 5@;;7) A% 3cri#ical (rac#ice4 >arris means #o sa% #ha# revision should be some#hing #ha# becomes such a (rac#iced and regular (ar# of &ri#ing #ha# i# becomes necessar%) >arris claims #ha# s#uden#s and #eachers are #oo focused on #he &ords #hemselves ins#ead of #he (rocesses i# #a'es #o form and sha(e #hem) 3$ha# 0 &an# #o sugges#,4 sa%s >arris, 3is #ha# &e ma% be mos# effec#ive as #eachers &hen &e focus as direc#l% as &e can on #he uns#able &or'ings of &ri#ing i#selfBsince #ha# is (recisel% &ha# almos# ever%one else &an#s #o se# aside4 5@627) >arris (ro(oses 3a course #ha# loo's ver% closel% a# ho& ideas ge# sha(ed in and refrac#ed b% language)4 >e s#a#es #ha# he is 3arguing for a focus no# on form bu# on func#ion, on use in con#e+#4 5@627) 0n essence, >arris is loo'ing #o remove #he idea of sim(l% ma'ing small, oneB&ord changes, and

Grable C im(lemen#ing con#e+#ual, bigB(ic#ure changes ins#ead) >e &an#s #o s#o( loo'ing a# &ords b% #hemselves and s#ar# loo'ing a# #heir meanings as a &hole &i#hin #he #e+#) .his &ould crea#e &ri#ing #ha# has more consis#en# and clear direc#ion, ins#ead of sen#enceBb%Bsen#ence reading #ha# doesn,# blend #oge#her &ell) .his #%(e of revision &ould be easier for s#uden#s #o unders#and because i# &ould (rovide more meaningful and s(ecific &a%s #o revise and im(rove one,s &ri#ing) 0# &ould #a'e #he focus a&a% from individual &ords and hel( s#uden#s #o focus on #he meaning of #he #e+# #ha# #he% &ri#e) $ha# s#ands ou# #o me from >arris,s essa% is #ha# he seems #o be more focused on #he ac#ual &ords &i#hin s#ruc#ures ra#her #han (ieceBb%B(iece revision) >e boldl% (ro(oses a ne& course al#oge#her, one #ha# focuses on &ords in con#e+#) >e #al's abou# #he 3uns#able &or'ings4 of &ri#ing) Area'ing i# do&n, i# seems #o me #ha# >arris is referring #o #he (ar#s of &ri#ing #ha# aren,# &or'ing or #ha# need changes) 0 believe #ha# one (roblem in &ri#ing is #ha# revision is being overloo'ed b% s#uden#s because i#,s #augh# in a general sense ins#ead of being s(ecific according #o con#e+#) .eachers generall% -us# sa% 3ma'e revisions4 or 3ma'e i# be##er4 bu# 0 #hin' #ha# s#uden#s need #o 'no& ho& and &hen #o ma'e #hese changes according #o differen# 'inds of si#ua#ions in &ri#ing) Personall%, 0 discovered &hile reading #his essa% #ha# 0 need #o 'no& &ha# s(ecific #hings #o loo' for and s(ecific #%(es of changes #ha# 0 need #o ma'e) $hen 0 have no direc#ion as #o &ha# 0,m su((osed #o be fi+ing besides obvious gramma#ical and s(elling errors, 0 of#en find m%self los#) >o&ever, if revision &as narro&ed do&n #o s(ecific si#ua#ions &i#hin con#e+#, 0 could find #he s(ecific (laces #ha# 0 needed #o fi+) 8or e+am(le= if 0 &as #old #o 3add #o #he #hesis4 0 &ould have no idea &ha# 0 &as su((osed #o add) >o&ever, if 0 &as #old 3narro& do&n #he ideas of #he #hesis #o be##er sui# #he bod% (aragra(hs4, 0 &ould 'no& e+ac#l% &ha# needed #o be revised) 0f #hese small #%(es of direc#ions and s#ruc#ures &ere im(lemen#ed in#o a

Grable @ ne& 'ind of (rac#ice, 0 &ould have a much easier #ime 'no&ing &ha# 0 needed #o modif% in m% &ri#ing) 0 #hin' #ha# >arris ma'es ano#her valid (oin# &hen he sa%s #ha# s#uden#s should develo( revision s'ills as a cri#ical (ar# of #heir &ri#ing) .his &a%, s#uden#s &on,# #hin' of revision as ano#her s#e(= #he%,ll be accus#omed #o i# as a (rac#ice and incor(ora#e i# li'e an% o#her com(onen# of &ri#ing) A% doing #his, revision &ill no longer be isola#ed from #he &ri#ing (rocess= i# &ill be in#egra#ed in#o i# #hrough s#uden#s (rac#icing i#) 0 discovered &hile reading 3Revision as a "ri#ical Prac#ice4 #ha# develo(ing and im(lemen#ing #his s#ra#eg% &ould be ver% beneficial #o me as a &ri#er) 0 of#en #hin' of revision as some#hing #ha# is se# aside from &ri#ing and #ha# is done af#er #he draf# is finished) .his men#ali#% of#en leaves me fran#icall% ma'ing insignifican# changes a# #he las# minu#e) >o&ever, if 0 learn #o incor(ora#e i# as 0 go, 0 &on,# have #o &orr% abou# revision la#er) 9% &ri#ings &ill im(rove as 0 (rogress, and 0 &ill be able #o focus on #he big (ic#ure of #he #e+# &hile ma'ing changes) "on#e+#ual guidelines are hel(ful for me in revising m% (a(ers because 0 am able #o im(rove u(on #he &ri#ing &hile also 'ee(ing #he big (ic#ure in mind) .he more s(ecific ins#ruc#ions #ha# 0 have as #o ho& revision can be used, #he more 0 am able #o successfull% modif% m% &ri#ing) ?es#er 8aigle% and S#e(hen $i##e (rovide some of #hese s(ecifics abou# u#ilizing revision in #heir essa% 3!nal%zing Revision4) .he% argue #ha# 3for man% %ears #eachers sa& revision as co(%Bedi#ing, a #id%ingBu( ac#ivi#% aimed a# elimina#ing surface errors in grammar, (unc#ua#ion, s(elling, and dic#ion) Revision &as #augh# as some#hing a &ri#er did af#er com(le#ing a firs# draf# 5C0074) 8aigle% and $i##e go on #o s#a#e #ha# research on causes and effec#s of revision has dis(roven #his sim(le idea of &ri#ing com(osi#ion 5C007) !ccording #o research on (rogressive &ri#ing (rocesses, 3&ri#ers move bac' and for#h among #he various ac#ivi#ies of com(osing, and

Grable D #ha# e+(er# &ri#ers fre:uen#l% revie& &ha# #he% have &ri##en and ma'e changes &hile in #he mids# of genera#ing a #e+#)4 A% #his, #he au#hors mean #ha# revision ha((ens a# mul#i(le s#ages of &ri#ing, no# -us# af#er #he draf#s have been com(le#ed) Revision can occur even before a single sen#ence is finished) 0# occurs &hen an au#hor begins #o &ri#e a s#a#emen# and bac's(aces #o &ri#e some#hing differen#) Revision also #a'es (lace &hen a &ri#er subs#i#u#es a &ord #ha# conve%s #he idea more accura#el% for a &ord #ha# &asn,# &or'ing) Revision, unli'e #he linear model of af#erB #heBdraf# revising #ha# #he s#udies sugges#, is (rogressive and ha((ens as #he &ri#er goes along) ?es#er and 8aigle% also (ro(ose a com(le+ #a+onom% of #he differen# levels and #%(es of changes &i#hin revision, #he #&o main ca#egories being Surface "hanges and .e+#BAased "hanges 5C037) Surface "hanges are 3changes #ha# do no# bring ne& informa#ion #o a #e+# or remove old informa#ion 5C0274 and .e+#BAased "hanges include bo#h ma-or revision changes and 3meaning changes #ha# &ould no# affec# a summar% of #he #e+# 5C0@74) .hese main ca#egories are bro'en do&n in#o smaller sec#ions and &ords) .he Surface "hange #i#le brea's in#o #&o ca#egories 8ormal "hanges, &hich (er#ain #o s(elling, #ense, and (unc#ua#ion, and 9eaningB Preserving "hanges, &hich include modifica#ions li'e addi#ions, dele#ions, and subs#i#u#ions) .he .e+#BAased "hanges #i#le brea's in#o 9acros#ruc#ure and 9icros#ruc#ure "hanges, bo#h &hich consis# of (ermu#a#ions, subs#i#u#ions, and combina#ions) 0 found #he ideas #ha# 8aigle% and $i##e (ro(osed in #his essa% ver% in#eres#ing) *ne of #he (oin#s #ha# caugh# m% a##en#ion &as #ha# revision has of#en been #augh# as some#hing s#uden#s do af#er com(le#ing a draf#) .he #&o au#hors (ro(ose #ha# revision doesn,# al&a%s come af#er &ri#ing has been com(le#ed) 8rom #his ar#icle, 0 learned #ha# revision does no# have #o be some#hing #ha# is saved for #he end &hen #he ideas have all been &ri##en ou# and formed) 0# can be some#hing #ha# is con#inuous and (rogresses as &ords are being develo(ed) .his is some#hing

Grable ; #ha# &ill be valuable for me because 0 can focus on im(roving m% &ri#ing as 0 go, no# on sim(l% ge##ing #he &ords ou# and 'no&ing 0,ll change #hem la#er) !lso, #he #&o au#hors #al'ed abou# ho& #he linear model #ha# has been #augh# is oversim(lif%ing &ha# revision reall% deals &i#h, and 0 com(le#el% agree) Revision has al&a%s seemed li'e a general 3fi+ &ha# s#ic's ou# #o %ou4 or 3-us# chec' for grammar and s(elling4 sor# of s#e() 0,ve never seen i# (ro(osed as some#hing so s(ecific as 0 sa& in 3!nal%zing Revision4) .he #a+onom% #ha# describes s#e(s #ha# fall under Surface "hanges and .e+#BAased "hanges &as ver% in#eres#ing and hel(ful for me as a s#uden# &ri#er) .he s(ecific changes #ha# &ere (ro(osed reall% o(ened m% e%es abou# #he #%(es of revision #ha# are (ossible) >aving #ha# #a+onom% as a #ool &ill be ver% hel(ful for me because #here are s(ecific #hings #o loo' for and s(ecific &a%s #o change m% &ri#ing) 0 learned #ha# 'no&ing abou# s(ecific #%(es of changes can ge# me much fur#her in m% o&n revisions because s(ecifics give me direc#ion) Revision has become more im(or#an# #o m% &ri#ing #han 0 believed i# &ould) Aeing a s#uden#, revision gives me #he o((or#uni#% #o s#rive #o be be##er &i#h ever%#hing 0 &ri#e) 1o& #ha# 0,ve read &ha# scholars have #o sa% abou# i#, 0 realize i#s #rue im(or#ance) 0 &as able #o gain insigh# abou# s(ecific direc#ions #ha# revision can go, and s(ecific forms of revision #ha# &ill hel( me &ri#e in #he fu#ure) *ne recurring #heme #ha# 0 sa& in ever% (iece of li#era#ure abou# revision &as #his= i# is no# onl% im(or#an#, bu# necessar% #o #he &ri#ing (rocess) .hrough research, 0,ve come #o defini#ivel% agree &i#h #his s#a#emen#) Revision is some#hing #ha# should be incor(ora#ed in ever% 'ind of &ri#ing, b% ever% s#uden#) !s m% research came #o a close and 0 loo'ed bac' on #he 'e% (oin#s of each ar#icle, 0 realized #ha# revision is no# as com(lica#ed as 0 #hough# i# &as) !s a &ri#er, 0 discovered #ha# revision involves #a'ing &ords in con#e+# and ma'ing #hem blend #oge#her #o conve% #he righ# meaning) 0 learned #ha# 0 need #o focus on #he meaning of #he #e+#

Grable 6 ra#her #han #he individual &ords &hile revising) Researching revision hel(ed me #o find s(ecific &a%s #o edi# and al#er m% (a(ers) Revisions don,# have #o be re&ording or &ordBb%B&ord changes= #he% can be bigB(ic#ure ad-us#men#s #ha# be##er serve #he (ur(ose of #he #e+#) 0 no& realize ho& valuable bu# %e# ho& accessible good revision #echni:ues reall% are) Revision &ill be some#hing #ha# 0 in#egra#e and incor(ora#e in#o ever%#hing 0 &ri#e) 9% unders#anding of revision has changed from a sen#imen# of insignificance and unim(or#ance #o #ha# of necessi#% and a((recia#ion, and for #ha#, 0 am gra#eful #o #he scholars)

Grable < $or's "i#ed 8aigle%, ?es#er and S#e(hen $i##e) 3!nal%zing Revision)4 College Composition and Communication 32)C 51<617 C00B1C) JSTOR) $eb) 3 1ov) 2013) >arris, Jose(h) 3Revision as a "ri#ical Prac#ice)4 College English D@)D 520037 @;;B<2) JSTOR) $eb) 26 *c#) 2013) Sommers, 1anc%) 3Revision S#ra#egies of S#uden# $ri#ers and E+(erienced !dul# $ri#ers)4 College Composition and Communication 31)C 51<607 3;6B66) JSTOR. $eb) 2C *c#) 2013)