Revising and Editing

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Revising and Editing

• Adapted from PWO by sladow

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Revising and Editing

• Three levels
• Top
• Section
• Sentence

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Revising and Editing

• Revision
• Editing

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The Top Level

• Examine the title, overview and headings they
  should answer the following questions
• Is it clear what the report is about?
• Is it clear what the report is doing?
• Is it clear where I should read if I only want a
  certain section of the report?

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Top Level Challenges

• Rhetorical
• Structural
• Language

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Top level Rhetorical Issues

• Problem
• Isnt clear what the problem iswhy is this
  report being written?
• The answer doesnt work
• Misses the real issue
• Argument
• Isnt convincing
• Isnt clear
• Neglects audience
• Respect
• Insulting to audience or competitors

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Top level Structural Issues

• Introduction
• Doesnt contextualize the situation
• Doesnt provide an overview
• Doesnt outline the reason for writing
• Discussion
• Lacks organization
• Has poor headings
• Doesnt conclude
• Information
• Not organized
• Not complete

• Fonts/Graphics
• Inconsistent use of fonts for headings, lists.
• Color
• Not consistent
• Visuals
• Not clearly marked
• Have nothing to do with the point
• In the wrong section

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Top level Language Issues

• Inappropriate
• Inconsistent

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The Section Level

• Look at your headings and sections
• Are they in the conventional order?
• Are they organized within the section with a
  topic sentence?

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Section level Challenges

• Rhetorical
• Heading and opening (topic sentence) misleading
• Inappropriate information or visuals
• Design misleading e.g. emphasis less important
  criteria
• Structural
• Section out of conventional order
• Heading has nothing to do with the section
• Material not covered in depth
• Color inconsistent
• Language
• You remember, dont you?

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Paragraph and Sentence level

• Grammar and Style
• Do you have to reread a sentence?
• Is it boring?
• Does it feel right?

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Sentence Level Challenges

• Fragments
• Run-ons
• Agreement
• Missing parallelism
• Inappropriate or missing punctuation
• Spelling

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Revising and Editing

• Top-level down works great, if youve planned
  time for it. (top level/section level/sentence
  level)
• If you are pressed for time, skip revising and
  head straight for the editingdont forget spell
  and gram check