WWW.COM: REVISING PAGE!

The Revising Homepage: "Writing, like a potter's clay, only becomes a thing of usefulness or beauty through repeated smoothing and shaping" (Walshe, 1981, 40). The purpose of revision is to clarify and shape the meaning and to organize the writing. It is at this stage that the author rethinks what has been written. Revision involves adding, substituting, deleting, and moving ideas and words around as writers rework and polish their pieces.

Conferring is a significant part of this stage in the writing process. Authors read their writing in pairs, in writing circles, and during a conference with the teacher. Listeners respond to the writer by noting what they liked about the piece, asking questions about the author's intent or any confusing parts, and providing suggestions for improvement. The author always has the option of incorporating the suggestions or ignoring them. Ownership is a must! Students should have control of the responsibility for their own writing.

Revising--Still Working... "As you continue writing and rewriting,
you begin to see possibilities you hadn't seen before."
-Robert Hayden

Does my piece say what I want it to say?

How can I make my writing clearer and more effective?

Should I add to, delete, or reorder my writing?

Does my writing make sense?

Will my readers understand my writing?

Am I pleased with my writing?

I have conferred with a number of my classmates.

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