1. Revision activities

2. Writing with authority
Underline every time you mention an author’s name.
Circle every time you refer to “the article” or “the book.”
Put a star next to every quote that you stick in the paragraph
without setting it up/referring to the author.
Put two stars next to every paragraph that starts with an
author’s ideas, rather than your own.
Put three stars next to every quote that you incorporate without
explaining, analyzing.
Highlight your argument in every paragraph.
Add up your totals. What do you need to work on?

3. Writing with authority
Share your results with someone next
to you.
Brainstorm ideas for ways to write with
more authority.
Jot down ideas on your draft for how to
resolve your problems.

4. Problems with structure?
Create a reverse outline: jot down the main
idea behind each paragraph.
Ask yourself the following questions:
– Does your paper flow logically?
– Was anything unclear?
– Did each paragraph relate to your larger argument?
– Were there any paragraphs that were difficult to categorize, that
seemed out of place, or unrelated?
Write a new outline using what you learned
from this exercise, and use this to reorganize
your paper.

5. Too wordy?
Trade papers with a partner.
Draw a box around the main argument, thesis, or idea of the
paper.
Highlight your favorite sentence in the paper.
Cross through one unnecessary or unappealing sentence.
Find a new place for the paper to start, and write “start” at the
beginning of the sentence.
Find a new place for the paper to end, and write “end” at the
beginning of the sentence.
Cross out every word that isn’t either necessary or beneficial to
the meaning of the sentence.

6. Not enough variety?
Go through your entire paper, and put a slash
between every sentence.
Count the number of words in each sentence,
and write the number in the margins.
Take a look at the numbers; do your
sentences vary in length? Are there lots of
long sentences, or short sentences, next to
one another? Where can you create some
variety?

7. Problems with style?
Circle every time you use the word “I.” Are you using the
pronoun to firmly state your position, or is it a weak subjective,
statement, such as “I feel”? Or is it unnecessary?
Circle every time you use a form of the verb “to be.” (is, was,
are, etc.). Can you substitute a more specific verb?
Look for examples of passive voice. Can you make your
sentences more active?
– Difference between passive voice and active voice:
– Passive: A study was conducted on the cuteness of baby
seals.
– Active: Smith and Jackson conducted a study on the
cuteness of baby seals.