SQR #3

Andrew Schlieper
English 1320/1301.161
9/10/10
Trang Phan
SQR # 3
S: When revising an essay, students look at revising differently than expert writers. Students look at revising as rewording and checking for repetition in the text. Students tend to reread the essay and try to use different words and different way to say the same thing. The reason why students tend to do this is because that is the way they were taught in school. In the study that was conducted, most of the students said that their essays were lacking something but they could not pinpoint what was wrong with it.
On the contrary, the Expert Adult Writers in the experiment would revise the drafts more thoroughly to the point some would change the entire point of the essay or concentrate more on a point they made previously in the other draft. When asked the reason why they do this, the adult season writers said that they first write a rough outline of the idea they have then, upon revision, they look at the draft with “new eyes”. As if they are reading someone else’s work, they “Re-view” the text to see where they need to elaborate, take another direction or completely revamp they essay. This is why most of the drafts the adults handed in varied greatly from one to the next.
Q: What are the revision strategies of experienced writers found in Sommer’s studies? What can you learn from those strategies?
R: Experienced writers tend to review their essays as if they are looking at another’s work. This method of revision is the key to their success as writes. “Re-viewing” their work like this tends to give more free range with critiquing and editing. If new writers used this method to review their own work, they would be able to become better writers and be better at critiquing other’s work. Taking this method and applying it to English class assignments we will be able to help each other.