Tip #12

Learning objective: To build reviewing and revising into the writing process

For any writing task – short or long – give time for students to review and revise their writing choices. This isn’t proofreading. Nor is it re-drafting. It means:

  • considering key vocabulary choices. Ask students to identify five key words in their writing and focus on each one in turn: could that word be more precise or impactful? Build a word bank of alternative choices and select the most effective.
  • considering sentence structure. Ask students to identify one sentence in their writing that could be more clearly, precisely or powerfully expressed. Ask them to re-write that sentence in two or three different ways – eg breaking it down into two sentences and/or reordering the clauses – and select the most effective.

Giving students the opportunity to review and revise encourages them to view the writing process as a series of choices and decisions.

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