Revision ReviewUsing a Checklist for the Final

Project

Recap what it means to revise, THEN edit

help students use a checklist to be sure the final draft is ready to submit

The revision phase can not and should not be rushed. Pages 194-204 contain a great section on what it means to revise and edit. If you haven’t checked it out yet, now’s the time!

Phase 1 of revision means to focus on the ideas and information, NOT the grammar.

Let’s look at the following paragraph to see if we can find what ideas or information can be deleted.

From Chapter 14 of our textbook…

1) In some papers, the topic will be specialized enough that you need to define one or more terms so that readers can make sense of the discussion that follows. 2) Terms can be very useful to readers because they relate to your topic. 3) When defining a term, make sure the term is essential to the discussion and warrants a direct definition. 4) In addition, define a term in your own words, not by copying it from a dictionary. 5) Although referring to a dictionary might seem the logical approach, such definitions are predictable and usually boring. 6) Besides, copying from a dictionary means you’re lazy and too stupid to figure out a way to explain it yourself. 7) Offer a unique definition for any term that is important enough to require such attention. 8) By offering a definition for a term that’s really important, you’re getting the reader’s attention.

Do NOT trust the computer to give you good advice with all those red and green squiggly lines; read the paper out loud, or have someone else read it out loud to catch the grammatical errors.

Not feeling comfortable in looking for grammatical issues? The Writing Center has a wonderful reference library filled with help on punctuation, sentence structure, and parts of speech. They also have live tutors who are more than willing to handle any such question.

Even babies need their own laptops these days!

1) Every compositions needs to make a clear point about it’s topic. 2) Otherwise what purpose would the righting serve? 3) One way to ensure that readers will follow along in the development on an essay is by including a written thesis statement., 4) the word thesis comes from a Geek word that means “proposition” or “position.” 5) In any assay, the thesis establishes your position; the main idea of the paper, what you claim to be true or important about the topic. 6) A thesis help’s readers understand the direction the essay is heading and it connects body paragraphs to a controlling idea so that the essay comes together as a unified and cohesive hole.

The source: Jones, L. (1990). How to eat and stay slim. Journal of Healthy Living, 4(3), 120-125. Retrieved from http://dlm.lib.swu.edu/index/pjp.pdk

According to Jones, (1990), “Even simple dietary changes such as six servings of produce every day can help someone gain control of their weight while still eating frequently throughout the day.”

“Even simple dietary changes such as six servings of produce every day can help someone gain control of their weight while still eating frequently throughout the day (Jones, 1990, page 122).”

The source: Raising roofs. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.raisingroofs.com

Even neighborhoods with little in community funds can create positive environments and uplifting events by applying for grants from the Raising Roof Foundation (http://www.raisingroofs.com).

The source: Martinez, D.L. (2009). Writing in the online environment. Chicago: Evans Press, Inc.

There are several areas of online citation that cause confusion among today’s students. (Writing in the online environment, 2009).

According to (Martinez, 2009), there are several areas of online citation that cause confusion among today’s students.

Move through the checklist in numerical order.

Be certain you can place a check by each item before moving to the next item.

Ask questions about checklist items if needed.

Final enough for you?

Reading through the checklist gives students the “big picture.”

The checklist is available in the Unit 9 Final Project area.

It also exists on the following slides.

1. Does my paper look like Maggie’s (APA Manuscript Style)?2. Is there a thesis with key points as the last sentence of my

introduction?1. Remember, the thesis needs to be a single sentence that contains the topic and

three key points. Here’s the sample from page 44 in the handbook to help you remember. The topic is underlined, and the key points are in bold color.

2. Law enforcement agencies around the country are reducing identity theft through community education, close tracking of repeat offenders, and increased emphasis on stiffer sentences for identity thieves.

3. Is my paper double spaced with the first line of each paragraph indented ½” and with no extra spaces between paragraphs?

4. Have I used 12-point font? Remember, Word 2007 will automatically set the font at 11-point!

5. Does each body paragraph begin with a topic sentence that 1) lets the reader know what that paragraph is about, 2) connects to my thesis, and 3) makes a nice transition between the previous paragraph and this new one?

6. Does the body of my paper develop the thesis key points of my paper?7. Is the paper informative (as it should be), not persuasive? 8. Have I used specific examples or other kinds of evidence to support

my main points and ideas?

9. Do I have parenthetical citations after all paraphrases and quotes?Are all paraphrases totally written in my own words? If not, I’m plagiarizing!Are all quotations introduced with my own words, and the source’s own words placed in quotation marks?

10. Is the period after the parenthetical citation in sentences where I have used parenthetical citations?

11. Does each parenthetical citation correspond to an entry on my References page?

12. Is each of the items on my References page used within the paper and cited within an in-text citation?

13. Do I have a clear conclusion (begins with thesis restatement) at the end of my paper?

14. Does my paper meet and not significantly exceed the essay’s length requirement? Remember, the essay itself should be at least four FULL pages. That does not include the title page or Reference page!

15. Does each source included on the References page have the correct information for that type of source listed in the correct order?

16. Have I used correct indentation for the References page?17. Have I read every sentence and made sure that grammar and

punctuation are correct and that sentences are engaging and easy to follow?

If you can say “yes” to the checklist items, you can feel confident about the Unit 9 Final Project!

Discuss: What are some things you’ve done to help make your revision phase smoother?

Best wishes for a great Final Project! I know you all are capable of great writing. I

believe in you!

Because there is no seminar for Unit 10, this ends our final time together in seminar. Thank you all for your hard work this term. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and I look forward to seeing all your success stories in Kaplan’s history!