Carla K. Meyer Ph.D.Appalachian State University

WRITING: MAKING IT BETTER

Thought for the Day•Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.• E.B. White

Today’s Agenda• Revision

• Strategy Instruction

Author’s on Revision• “[Anyone can write well] if only that person will write the same thought over and over again, improving it a little each time.” Kurt Vonnegut author of Slaughterhouse-Five• “The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, a brain surgeon.” Robert Cormier author of The Chocolate War• “Only God gets it right the first time.” Stephen King

The Importance of Revision• “Writing is revising, and the writer’s craft is largely a matter of knowing how to discover what you have to say, develop, and clarify it, each requiring the craft of revision” (Murray, 1991, p.2).• Revision also provides a way for teachers to guide students in learning about the characteristics of writing in ways that will not only improve the current piece but also carry to future writing.• Get feedback• Learn to evaluate their own writing• Discover ways to solve common writing problems.

Revision and Expert Writers• Expert writers revise frequently

• During • After

• However, research shows students do little revising, and the revision that does occur is often superficial.

Best Practices: Teaching Revision (MacArthur, 2007).

1 Evaluation Criteria and Self-Evaluation and Peer Revision

1 Specific criteria is necessary2 MODEL-Share papers with a particular problem and

demonstrate how to revise the paper (I do). Then work collaboratively to fix the paper (we do).

2 Critical Reading1 Teach students how to read critically and identify

areas of weakness.2 Students then learn to transfer critical reading

skills into peer revision.

Best Practices: Teaching Revision (MacArthur, 2007).

3 Peer Revision1 A major component of the writing process classroom2 Students learn from both roles as author and reviser3 Must be integrated with a instruction about how to

evaluate and revise to be effective4 Strategy Instruction

1 Teachers explicitly explain the strategy and model how to do the strategy using think alouds, provide guided practice, and independent practice.

2 Specific strategies exist for different steps of the writing process including revision.

Best Practices: Teaching Revision (MacArthur, 2007).

5 Word Processing1 Makes revision possible without tedious recopying.2 Students must be taught to revise using the computer.3 Students must have word processing skills for this to be

effective

For Example

STRATEGY INSTRUCTION(GRAHAM AND HARRIS, 2005).

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

1 Discuss It-Why is this important?2 Model It-I do3 Internalize It –Students learn the steps4 Support It-We do5 Independent Performance-You Do

Strategy Instruction(Graham and Harris, 2005).

• Declarative Knowledge: What strategy is to be learned and used• Procedural Knowledge: How is that strategy actually employed• Conditional Knowledge: When and why that strategy should be used

Peer Revising Strategy: One Approach (Graham and Harris, 2005)

• Upon the completion of the first draft:• Revision is initiated by sharing the paper with a listener.• Author reads the paper aloud while the listener reads along.• Active listening is critical and the listener asks questions about

what may be unclear.• After the paper is read, the listener tells the writer what the

paper is about and what he or she likes bests.• Listener should be taught to comment on main ideas and important

parts as well.

Peer Revising Strategy: One Approach (Graham and Harris, 2005)

• Upon the completion of the first draft (con):• Next the listener reads the paper• Asks for help if something cannot be read• Ask the questions• Is there anything unclear?• Is there any portion in which more detail should be added?• This is the step during which the partners can focus on a particular

component (e.g. voice, word choice, etc).• Partners discuss recommendations made by the listener

Peer Revising Strategy (McArthur, Schwartz, & Graham, 1991).• Two Parts

1 Revising2 Editing

• Two Roles1 Writer2 Listener

Writer’s RoleEditingStep 1: After revising draft, reread paper to check for any grammatical errors which they may find.

Listener’s RoleEditingStep 1: Check the writer’s paper for errors in:

SentencesCapitalsPunctuationSpelling

Step 2: Share suggestions with the writer.

Editing checklist• Sentences: Is the sentence complete?

• Capitals: Are first letters of sentences capitalized? Are proper nouns capitalized.

• Punctuation: Is there punctuation at the end of each sentence?

• Spelling: Circle words you are not sure of and correct with spell-checker or dictionary.

Tips for Peer Revision Instruction (Graham and Harris, 2005).

• Peer revision is easier if students have the opportunity to word process draft.• Teachers must model and emphasize that feedback and suggestions must be delivered in a positive manner.• In the early stages the teacher must scaffold the listener and help provide suggestions.

To Do• Read• Article on Discussion