This document provides guidance on revising writing through multiple rounds of editing. Round 1 involves summarizing each paragraph in 3-5 words to check clarity and flow. Round 2 focuses on varied sentence structures such as using verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or connectives to start sentences. Round 3 examines proper comma usage when starting sentences or adding extra information. Round 4 encourages precise vocabulary and literary techniques. Round 5 suggests ways to improve structure such as engaging openings and endings, varying perspectives or timeframes.

1. What makes each of these
effective?

2. Round 1: Does it make sense?
A.) Summarize each paragraph in 3-5 words – is it clear what that paragraph
is about?
Does everything in that paragraph stay on topic?
Are the paragraphs in the right order?
A = Do they link
B.) Read it out loud and check that you haven’t made any errors

3. Round 2: Sentence Openings (and varied
sentence lengths)
Highlight the start of EVERY sentence
Start with an ing/ed word (verb) eg. Stamping
Start with an adjective (describing word eg. brown, muddy or anxious)
Start with an adverb (ly) eg. cautiously or impulsively
Start with a simile (Like a…/As a …)
Start with a connective (If…However…. Yet… Despite…)
Start with dialogue

4. Round 3: Commas
(highlight all of your commas)
NEVER used to join (if you can use a____ then you can’t use a comma)
a.) If you start your sentence with a ing/ed word (verb), a connective, an
adjective or simile then you need one (often near the start or in the middle)
b.) If you have extra information (like using brackets) where what is inside the
pairs of commas or dashes can be taken out and it still makes sense
c.) If you have a list eg. The pack contained her lunch, gun and teddy.

5. Round 4: Show off Bits
a.) Precise and interesting vocab. (not words you don’t know!)
b.) Techniques (personification/similes/plosive/sibilant words/mono-syllabic words /
triadic structure)
c.) Punctuation … ; : (but only if they add – not just for the sake of it)

6. Round 5: Structure
How to spice this up…
a. Opening and ending
(look at the openings sheet)
b. Different voices
c. Different times…