Drafting and Editing: the importance of drafting and how to edit effectively Materials developed by the Learner Development Unit at the University of Bradford Learner Development Unit www.brad.ac.uk/developme

What you will learn: That drafting is an essential part of making sure you produce good quality writing. The importance of the editing process in redrafting. To use checklists to improve your drafting and editing process.

That drafting is an essential part of making sure you produce good quality writing.

The importance of the editing process in redrafting.

To use checklists to improve your drafting and editing process.

The Plan… Why draft? The difference between drafting and editing Looking at editing Looking at (re)drafting Creating checklists

Why draft?

The difference between drafting and editing

Looking at editing

Looking at (re)drafting

Creating checklists

1. Why draft? It’s unlikely that your best work will ‘flow out’ onto the page the first time you write. It allows you to see if there are any gaps in your original research/planning and plug them sooner rather than later. It is part of the larger process of writing and allows you to concentrate on the writing-up stage.

It’s unlikely that your best work will ‘flow out’ onto the page the first time you write.

It allows you to see if there are any gaps in your original research/planning and plug them sooner rather than later.

It is part of the larger process of writing and allows you to concentrate on the writing-up stage.

Activity: So what is the difference? You have 3 minutes to make a decision on your table about the difference between drafting and editing. This will be shared with the whole group. 2. The difference between drafting and editing

You have 3 minutes to make a decision on your table about the difference between drafting and editing.

This will be shared with the whole group.

Drafting = writing a first version to be edited later Editing = revising and adapting an earlier version 2. The difference between drafting and editing

Drafting = writing a first version to be edited later

Editing = revising and adapting an earlier version

Closely related activities Involve testing quality of work against different criteria Aim is to identify problems and allow you to improve overall quality Need to do both steps! 2. The difference between drafting and editing

Closely related activities

Involve testing quality of work against different criteria

Aim is to identify problems and allow you to improve overall quality

Need to do both steps!

More detailed study of language and style Checking and correcting the accuracy of what is already written Focus on meaning of individual sentences and within paragraphs, including checking for conciseness 3. Looking at editing

More detailed study of language and style

Checking and correcting the accuracy of what is already written

Focus on meaning of individual sentences and within paragraphs, including checking for conciseness

Activity: Managing the Word Count Complete the tasks on the sheet. Compare your answers with the comments sheet. 3. Looking at editing

Complete the tasks on the sheet.

Compare your answers with the comments sheet.

Process of refining overall content and structure Involves adding, removing and reorganising elements as a whole Focus on whole document and connections between paragraphs Improving the text by ‘re-writing’ it to ensure it meets the assessment criteria 4. Looking at (re)drafting

Process of refining overall content and structure

Involves adding, removing and reorganising elements as a whole

Focus on whole document and connections between paragraphs

Improving the text by ‘re-writing’ it to ensure it meets the assessment criteria

Activity: Checking Your Own Work You have 5 minutes to create a checklist for you to use when editing your own work. Compare this to the suggested list – how do they compare? 5. Creating checklists

You have 5 minutes to create a checklist for you to use when editing your own work.

Compare this to the suggested list – how do they compare?

5. Creating checklists Is there a clear central argument to the piece of writing? Have you defined any key terms in the introduction? Does the language express your arguments with appropriate force? Have you made explicit connections between your introduction and conclusion? Are supporting points well chosen for the main point to which they link? Have all sources of material been acknowledged? Is the document written in an appropriate style? Is the length and number of sentences in each paragraph suitably varied? Have you expressed your argument in language which is as clear and concise as possible? Are supporting points well chosen for the main point to which they link? Have all sources of material been acknowledged? Is the document written in an appropriate style? Is the length and number of sentences in each paragraph suitably varied? Have you expressed your argument in language which is as clear and concise as possible?

Is there a clear central argument to the piece of writing?

Have you defined any key terms in the introduction?

Does the language express your arguments with appropriate force?

Have you made explicit connections between your introduction and conclusion?

Are supporting points well chosen for the main point to which they link?

Have all sources of material been acknowledged?

Is the document written in an appropriate style?

Is the length and number of sentences in each paragraph suitably varied?

Have you expressed your argument in language which is as clear and concise as possible?

Are supporting points well chosen for the main point to which they link?

Have all sources of material been acknowledged?

Is the document written in an appropriate style?

Is the length and number of sentences in each paragraph suitably varied?

Have you expressed your argument in language which is as clear and concise as possible?

Remember: Manage your time! A single draft is never enough Edit and redraft as necessary Seek feedback on content if appropriate Use checklists to support process

Manage your time!

A single draft is never enough

Edit and redraft as necessary

Seek feedback on content if appropriate

Use checklists to support process

What next? Check out our website for more learning materials: www.brad.ac.uk/developme Come along to another workshop: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/lssworkshops/ Contact us for 1-2-1 advice and support: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learnerdevelopment

Check out our website for more learning materials: www.brad.ac.uk/developme

Come along to another workshop: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/lssworkshops/

Contact us for 1-2-1 advice and support: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learnerdevelopment