Revise globally by making a reverse outline - Revising, editing, and reflecting - A process for writing

Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Revise globally by making a reverse outline
Revising, editing, and reflecting
A process for writing

Outlines are useful before you write a first draft to help you focus and structure your ideas. They are useful, too, after you have written a draft to reveal the organization of your essay. Some writers revise globally by making a reverse outline.

A reverse outline helps you examine the logical flow of ideas and evaluate each paragraph to see how it supports your thesis. By going through your draft paragraph by paragraph, you can see how the parts work together and determine whether each paragraph has a clear focus. Sometimes a reverse outline reveals that your draft has taken a different direction than you planned and thus you need to revise your thesis. Sometimes it reveals gaps in support or paragraphs that need topic sentences.

To make a reverse outline:

✵ Reread your draft. Write your main points in the margin.

✵ Number each paragraph or each part of your draft. Make notes in the margin about each paragraph. What is the topic sentence? What is the main idea of the paragraph?

✵ Ask questions: Is your thesis clear and specific? Have you provided sufficient support for the thesis? Are your paragraphs developed and focused? Did you leave anything out? The answers to these questions will shape your revision plan.

ACADEMIC WRITING When reviewing your draft, carefully consider the language you’ve used when discussing others. Have you made any assumptions about groups of people that are stereotypical or too general? Have you used any language that might be disrespectful or noninclusive of your readers? See 17e and 17f.

3f Revise and edit sentences.

When you revise sentences, you focus on clarity and effectiveness; when you edit , you check for correctness. Sentences that are wordy, vague, or rambling may distract readers and make it hard for readers to focus on your purpose or grasp your ideas. Read each sentence slowly to determine whether it communicates your meaning clearly and specifically. You might find it helpful to read your work aloud and trust your ears to detect awkwardness, wordiness, or repetition.

Below is an excerpt from a student draft that included both errors that needed editing (blue comments) and ineffective or unclear sentences that needed revising (black comment). References to relevant handbook sections appear in parentheses.

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REVISED AND EDITED PASSAGE

Although some cities have found creative ways to improve access to public transportation for passengers with physical disabilities, our city has struggled with budget constraints and competing priorities. The budget crunch has led citizens to question how funds are distributed.

The revised and edited passage is clearer, easier to read, and correct.

HOW TO

Improve your writing with an editing log

An important aspect of becoming a college writer is learning how to identify the grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors that you make frequently and that may make your writing hard to read. You can use an editing log to keep a list of your common errors, anticipate patterns, and learn the rules needed to make corrections or changes. When you receive a draft with feedback, take the following steps.

1. Review any errors that your instructor or tutor has identified.

2. Note which editing problems you commonly have. For example, have you seen “run-on sentence” or “need a transition” marked in other drafts?

3. Identify the advice in the handbook that will help you correct the errors.

4. Make an entry in your editing log. A suggested format appears below.

Sample editing log page

ORIGINAL SENTENCE

Athletes who use any type of biotechnology give themselves an unfair advantage they should be banned from competition.

EDITED SENTENCE

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RULE OR PATTERN APPLIED

To edit a run-on sentence, use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or). Rules for Writers , section 20a