Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011
Exercise 3.2 Revision Consultants
Revision Peer Consultants
Part 3. Revision
One of hardest parts of revision is writing that is not wrong, but that could be improved. I once had a student ask me, “How do you know when to stop revising?” This was an excellent question, for which the only answer is, “When you are convinced the material is as strong and clear as you can make it.”
You may find revision to be a hard part of the writing process because you are not sure what to revise. It can be difficult to step far enough back from your writing to see the weaknesses in your material.
Sometimes consulting with a partner can help. You and a partner can read each other’s work and offer suggestions for revision. You should not correct each other’s papers. Instead you should underline items you feel should be revised and write comments in the margins. The author can then consider revising the places his partner marked. The more practice you have with revision, the more comfortable and confident you will become with the process.
Learning how to revise takes a long time and requires a major effort. These efforts are well worth the undertaking, because revision provides the opportunity to create great writing. It is through revision that you will become a writer.
Exercise 3.2 Revision Consultants
Work with a partner on revision. You and your partner are to act as peer revision consultants. You are to read each other’s writing and find places where revision could improve the piece. Underline in pencil places on your partners’ papers where revision might be helpful. Write brief comments in the margins. For example, a spot where two sentences could be combined might be labeled “Combine sentences.” After you and your partner have written and offered comments on each other’s piece, discuss the writing. Explain why you think specific instances of his writing should be revised. He then explains why he thinks instances of your writing should be revised. Both of you can then make revisions.