Looking Again: Revision and Developing the Eyes to See the ...



Looking Again: Revision and Developing the Eyes to See the Qualities of Good WritingPresented by Georgia Heard heard_georgia@Association of Teachers of English QuebecWrite All About It: Fall Fare November 4, 2013 Three Revision ToolboxesThere is a thin line between teaching revision strategies and teaching qualities of good writing or craft. You can’t just suggest to kids that they revise their leads. You must show them what good leads are, and talk about how to craft a good lead. Revision is linked to knowing the qualities of good writing.1. Structure Toolbox[Writing] … is a piece of architecture…. It’s a building—it has to have walls and floors and the bathrooms have to work. --John Irving2. Word ToolboxThe difference between the almost-right word and the right word is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. --Mark Twain3. Voice ToolboxIt’s my tone of voice. It’s the writer’s presence in the story. --Jessica AndersonThe Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques that Work (new edition, 2014) by Georgia Heard (Heinemann)Rereading with Different LensesRereading with the Lens of Focus and ClarityWhat is the heart of my story?Is there a clear theme, thesis or main idea?What is the focus of my topic?Do all the details support my focus?Rereading with the Lens of LanguageIs my language clear, precise and concrete?Are there any words that I can crack-open and find other words that are more specific?Are my verbs vivid and active?Are there any parts where I can elaborate and add more detail?Rereading with the Lens of So What?How can I get my readers to care about my topic as much as I do?If I add this detail, will it make a difference to my writing?Other LensesSentence VariationSoundFeelingThe Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques that Work (new edition, 2014) by Georgia Heard (Heinemann)Revision ConferencesYou’re teaching the writer not the writing – Lucy CalkinsWhat did you revise today? How has it made a difference to your writing?Now that you’ve finished a draft with which lens would you like to reread your writing?I’m going to read your draft out loud and as I read listen for places where you might want to crack open a word, phrase or sentence?Tell me what comes to your mind or what you notice as you listen to me read your writing.As you listen to your writing – do you see any other pictures or images in your mind?How does your writing sound to you? Any place where you think you could add more or need to change?End the conference with a compliment.The Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques that Work (new edition, 2014) by Georgia Heard (Heinemann)Writing Center Revision ToolsPost-it-notes Colored pens Correction fluid (white-out) Flaps of paper and “spider-legs” (long strips of paper) Scotch tape to add-on sentencesScissors A thesaurus and a dictionary The Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques that Work (new edition, 2014) by Georgia Heard (Heinemann)7 Revision Tools for Adding Words and TextCaret ^Sticky NotesSpider LegsBlank PageNumbered or Lettered AsterisksCirclesArrowsThe Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques that Work (new edition, 2014) by Georgia Heard (Heinemann)All rights reserved. ................
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