This presentation was given by Steve Peha at the Missouri Write to Learn conference in February 2017. Designed for K12 teachers, parents and students, the deck explains when and how to revise any kind of writing. It features strategies outlined in Steve Peha's book, Be a Better Writer.

1. REVISI
REVISION
NG

2. Revise our reasoning.
Revise our results.
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

3. Revision is hard.

4. Revision is normal.

5. Revision is a skill.

6. Revision is a habit.

7. Revision takes talent.
Revision takes effort.
Revision is a problem.
Revision is an opportunity.
Revision is time-consuming.
Revision is time well-spent.
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

8. We’re done with revision when
we’re done with revision.
We’re done with revision when
we’re done.

9. Use a “Definition of Done”
Just look at
that turkey!

10. Use a “Definition of Done”
Readers have a sense of what the
piece is about.
Readers want to read more.
Readers think the piece will be worth
reading.
After reading the beginning…

11. Use a “Definition of Done”
Readers have enough details to
understand the one most important
thing you want them to know.
Readers have enough information to
answer all their important questions.
Readers think you included the right
amount of information.
After reading the middle…

12. Use a “Definition of Done”
Readers understand why the piece was
written.
Readers feel that the piece is finished and
that it gives them something to think about.
Readers had a valuable experience.
After reading the end…

13. Use a “Definition of Done”
Readers understand why the piece was
written.
Readers feel that the piece is finished and
that it gives them something to think about.
Readers had a valuable experience.
After reading the end…
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

14. You can
observe a lot just
by watching.

15. Pick a Topic
TYPICAL UNUSUAL
Reading
Watching football with
my wife
Visiting schools
Writing
Going out lunch
Facebooking
Taking naps
Visiting my mom
Swallowed a pin when I
was a baby
Broke my foot letting
the dogs outside for
the night
Got married in a
bowling alley
Went to Paris on my
honeymoon
Worked with Bill
Gates (sort of)

16. Pick a Topic
TYPICAL UNUSUAL
Reading
Watching football with
my wife
Visiting schools
Writing
Going out lunch
Facebooking
Taking naps
Visiting my mom
Swallowed a pin when I
was a baby
Broke my foot letting
the dogs outside for
the night
Got married in a
bowling alley
Went to Paris on my
honeymoon
Worked with Bill
Gates (sort of)

17. Pick a Topic
TYPICAL UNUSUAL
Reading
Watching football with
my wife
Visiting schools
Writing
Going out lunch
Facebooking
Taking naps
Visiting my mom
Swallowed a pin when I
was a baby
Broke my foot letting
the dogs outside for
the night
Got married in a
bowling alley
Went to Paris on my
honeymoon
Worked with Bill
Gates (sort of)

18. Prewrite
ACTION FEELINGS
Letting dogs
outside before
bed
Fell on the stairs
and broke my foot
SETTING
Relief that I
wasn’t badly
injured
Lucky I didn’t hit
my head or hurt
my back
A lot of pain
My house
Bedroom
Hallway
Stairs
Barking dogs
excited to go
outside one more
time.

19. Prewrite
ACTION FEELINGS
Letting dogs
outside before
bed
Fell on the stairs
and broke my foot
SETTING
Relief that I
wasn’t badly
injured
Lucky I didn’t hit
my head or hurt
my back
A lot of pain
My house
Bedroom
Hallway
Stairs
Barking dogs
excited to go
outside one more
time.

20. Drafting
Each night, right before bed, I have to let
our dogs out. A few months ago, I fell on the
stairs as they went by me and broke my foot.
I missed a stair and came crashing down on
my right foot. For a moment, I felt lucky. No
injuries, I thought. Then I remembered that
cracking sound I’d heard as I went down.
OUCH

21. Drafting
Each night, right before bed, I have to let
our dogs out. A few months ago, I fell on the
stairs as they went by me and broke my foot.
I missed a stair and came crashing down on
my right foot. For a moment, I felt lucky. No
injuries, I thought. Then I remembered that
cracking sound I’d heard as I went down.
OUCH

22. More Drafting (Or is it Revising?)
Each night, right before bed, I have to let our dogs,
Mookie and Marvin, outside. They won’t let me get to
sleep if I don’t. A few months ago, their excitement
turned into a little problem.
I got up out of bed and headed for the stairs. One
of them ran between my legs and knocked me off
balance.
I missed a stair. With all my weight I came crashing
down on my right foot. I tumbled down to the landing.
For a moment, I felt lucky. No injuries, I thought. Then
I remembered that cracking sound in my foot.

23. More Drafting (Or is it Revising?)
Each night, right before bed, I have to let our dogs,
Mookie and Marvin, outside. They won’t let me get to
sleep if I don’t. A few months ago, their excitement
turned into a little problem.
I got up out of bed and headed for the stairs. One
of them ran between my legs and knocked me off
balance.
I missed a stair. With all my weight I came crashing
down on my right foot. I tumbled down to the landing.
For a moment, I felt lucky. No injuries, I thought. Then
I remembered that cracking sound in my foot.

24. Revising Beginnings
BEGIN WITH A QUESTION. Did you know that accidents with pets
account for many foot and leg injuries in older adults?
BEGIN WITH A SOUND. Crack! I heard the most terrible sound a
person can hear: the sound of one’s own breaking bones.
BEGIN WITH THE SETTING. It was a normal night like any other. I
was in bed, watching TV and relaxing when my dog, Mookie, put his big
paw on my arm which meant, in Mookie language, that he wanted to go
outside one more time.
BEGIN WITH ACTION. Mookie and Marvin shot past me like bullets as
I made my first steps down the stairs.
BEGIN WITH FEELINGS. There’s something very sad about tripping
over your own two feet and falling down the stairs.

25. Revising Beginnings
BEGIN WITH A QUESTION. Did you know that accidents with pets
account for many foot and leg injuries in older adults?
BEGIN WITH A SOUND. Crack! I heard the most terrible sound a
person can hear: the sound of one’s own breaking bones.
BEGIN WITH THE SETTING. It was a normal night like any other. I
was in bed, watching TV and relaxing when my dog, Mookie, put his big
paw on my arm which meant, in Mookie language, that he wanted to go
outside one more time.
BEGIN WITH ACTION. Mookie and Marvin shot past me like bullets as
I made my first steps down the stairs.
BEGIN WITH FEELINGS. There’s something very sad about tripping
over your own two feet and falling down the stairs.

26. Revising Beginnings
Crack! I knew I had just broken my
foot. I didn’t want to believe it, but
the pain made a convincing argument.
How, I wondered, had the simplest of
my night time duties turned into a
colossal disaster?
I’m using a “combination” lead here.
SOUND
QUESTION
ACTION

27. Revising Beginnings
Crack! I knew I had just broken my
foot. I didn’t want to believe it, but
the pain made a convincing argument.
How, I wondered, had the simplest of
my night time duties turned into a
colossal disaster?
I’m using a “combination” lead here.
SOUND
QUESTION
ACTION

28. Revising Endings
END WITH FEELINGS. I felt unlucky to have broken my foot, but as I
waited in the doctor’s waiting room, I saw people much worse off than I was.
Maybe I didn’t need to feel so bad after all.
END WITH A QUESTION. Months later, I’m more careful walking down the
stairs to let the dogs out. But I can’t stop thinking: Will this happen again?
END WITH A REALIZATION. When I went to see the doctor the next day,
I thought I had an unusual story to tell about how I broke my foot letting my
dogs outside. But the doctor wasn’t impressed. Apparently, many injuries like
mine have something to do with pets. My story wasn’t special at all.
END WITH SOMETHING ABOUT THE FUTURE. Looking ahead, I know
one thing: I don’t want to break this foot again. So I’m working out some new
rules for the dogs and me when we’re on the stairs together. The first rule
will be: let’s not be on the stairs together.

29. Revising Endings
END WITH FEELINGS. I felt unlucky to have broken my foot, but as I
waited in the doctor’s waiting room, I saw people much worse off than I was.
Maybe I didn’t need to feel so bad after all.
END WITH A QUESTION. Months later, I’m more careful walking down the
stairs to let the dogs out. But I can’t stop thinking: Will this happen again?
END WITH A REALIZATION. When I went to see the doctor the next day,
I thought I had an unusual story to tell about how I broke my foot letting my
dogs outside. But the doctor wasn’t impressed. Apparently, many injuries like
mine have something to do with pets. My story wasn’t special at all.
END WITH SOMETHING ABOUT THE FUTURE. Looking ahead, I know
one thing: I don’t want to break this foot again. So I’m working out some new
rules for the dogs and me when we’re on the stairs together. The first rule
will be: let’s not be on the stairs together.

30. Revising Endings
Limping into the doctor’s office the next morning,
I felt strangely special. I had an odd story to tell
about an unusual event. The orthopedist took one
look at my foot and said, “Do you have dogs?” I told
her I did. “More than half of these injuries involve
pets,” she said matter-of-factly. I guess I wasn’t so
special after all. I was just another clumsy pet
owner with a swollen, throbbing foot.
I’m using a “combination” ending here.
FEELING REALIZATION

31. Revising Endings
Limping into the doctor’s office the next morning,
I felt strangely special. I had an odd story to tell
about an unusual event. The orthopedist took one
look at my foot and said, “Do you have dogs?” I told
her I did. “More than half of these injuries involve
pets,” she said matter-of-factly. I guess I wasn’t so
special after all. I was just another clumsy pet
owner with a swollen, throbbing foot.
I’m using a “combination” ending here.
FEELING REALIZATION

32. Revising Details
IDEA DETAILS
One of the dogs
knocked me off balance.
They shot past me
One ran between my
legs
Other on the outside.
Didn’t want to step on
them
Stepped on myself

33. Revising Details
IDEA DETAILS
One of the dogs
knocked me off balance.
They shot past me
One ran between my
legs
Other on the outside.
Didn’t want to step on
them
Stepped on myself

34. Revising Details
As they shot past me in a mad dash, one
of them ran between my legs while the
other raced by on the outside. I didn’t
want to step on them, so I decided to step
on myself.
I’m “revising” all along the way here.

35. Revising Details
As they shot past me in a mad dash, one
of them ran between my legs while the
other raced by on the outside. I didn’t
want to step on them, so I decided to step
on myself.
I’m “revising” all along the way here.

36. Revising for Unnecessary Words
Crack! I knew I had just broken my foot. I didn’t want to
believe it, but the pain made a convincing argument. How, I
wondered, had the simplest of my night time duties turned into
a colossal disaster?
Each night, right before bed, I have to let our dogs, Mookie
and Marvin, outside. They won’t let me get to sleep if I don’t.
A few months ago, their excitement turned into a little problem.
I got up out of bed and headed for the stairs. As they shot
past me in a mad dash, one of them ran between my legs while
the other raced by on the outside. I didn’t want step on them,
so I decided to stepped on myself.
Continued…

37. Revising for Unnecessary Words
Crack! I knew I had just broken my foot. I didn’t want to
believe it, but the pain made a convincing argument. How, I
wondered, had the simplest of my night time duties turned into
a colossal disaster?
Each night, right before bed, I have to let our dogs, Mookie
and Marvin, outside. They won’t let me get to sleep if I don’t.
A few months ago, their excitement turned into a little problem.
I got up out of bed and headed for the stairs. As they shot
past me in a mad dash, one of them ran between my legs while
the other raced by on the outside. I didn’t want step on them,
so I decided to stepped on myself.
Continued…

38. Revising for Unnecessary Words
Crack! I knew I had just broken my foot. I didn’t want to
believe it, but the pain made a convincing argument. How, I
wondered, had a the simplest of my night time dutyes turned
into a colossal disaster?
Each night, right before bed, I have to let our dogs, Mookie
and Marvin, outside. They won’t let me get to sleep if I don’t.
A few months ago, their excitement turned into a little problem.
I got up out of bed and headed for the stairs. As they shot
past me in a mad dash, one of them ran between my legs while
the other raced by on the outside. I didn’t want step on them,
so I decided to stepped on myself.
Continued…

39. Revising for Unnecessary Words
I missed a stair. With all my weight, I came crashing down
on my right foot. I tumbled down to the landing. For a moment, I
felt lucky. No injuries, I thought. Then I remembered that
cracking sound in my foot.
Limping into the doctor’s office the next morning, I felt
strangely special. I had an odd story to tell about an unusual
event. The orthopedist took one looked at my foot and said,
“Do you have dogs?” I told her I did. “More than half of these
injuries involve pets,” she said matter-of-factly. I guess I wasn’t
so special after all. I was just another clumsy pet owner with a
swollen, throbbing foot.
244 Words

40. Revising for Unnecessary Words
I missed a stair. With all my weight, I came crashing down
on my right foot. I tumbled down to the landing. For a moment, I
felt lucky. No injuries, I thought. Then I remembered that
cracking sound in my foot.
Limping into the doctor’s office the next morning, I felt
strangely special. I had an odd story to tell about an unusual
event. The orthopedist took one looked at my foot and said,
“Do you have dogs?” I told her I did. “More than half of these
injuries involve pets,” she said matter-of-factly. I guess I wasn’t
so special after all. I was just another clumsy pet owner with a
swollen, throbbing foot.
244 Words

41. Revising for Unnecessary Words
I missed a stair. With all my weight, I came crashing down
on my right foot. I tumbled down to the landing. For a moment, I
felt lucky. No injuries, I thought. Then I remembered that
cracking sound in my foot.
Limping into the doctor’s office the next morning, I felt
strangely special. I had an odd story to tell about an unusual
event. The orthopedist took one looked at my foot and said,
“Do you have dogs?” I told her I did. “More than half of these
injuries involve pets,.” she said matter-of-factly. I guess I
wasn’t so special after all;. I was just another clumsy pet owner
with a swollen, throbbing foot.
198 Words

42. Strategic Incremental Revision

43. Strategic Incremental Revision
1. Read the text closely.
2. Identify a small part to improve.
3. Pick a strategy and give it a try.
4. Choose the best version.
5. Repeat until done.
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

44. Revision is the Key to Success
“Revision is the best way to make
kids better writers because revision is
how kids make writing better and
better writing is proof that kids are
better writers.”

45. Revision is the Key to Success
“Revision is the best way to make
kids better writers because revision is
how kids make writing better and
better writing is proof that kids are
better writers.”
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

46. Revision is What We Value Most
“When it comes to writing
instruction, revision is what we
value most because we know
that revision is the most
valuable thing a writer can do
to get better.”

47. Revision is What We Value Most
“When it comes to writing
instruction, revision is what we
value most because we know
that revision is the most
valuable thing a writer can do
to get better.”
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

48. Let’s Evaluate What We Value
“Because we value learning, and
because revision is the most valuable
learning experience we can provide to
student writers, revision should carry
the greatest value in our evaluation of
student learning in writing.”

49. Let’s Evaluate What We Value
“Because we value learning, and
because revision is the most valuable
learning experience we can provide to
student writers, revision should carry
the greatest value in our evaluation of
student learning in writing.”
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com

50. So Nu?

51. So Nu?
Make revision a normal part of writing.
Identify more revising opportunities.
Teach step-by-step structured strategies.
Take an incremental approach.
Praise the effort before the result.
Publish more short pieces.
Place evaluative emphasis on revision.
Send me an email at stevepeha@gmail.com