c r e a t e an essay about revision and its role in a writer's quest to improve.

Your essay must fit into this Writing Situation:

Role: You are writing as a college student who is working hard to develop new knowledge of writing and to improve your abilities as a writer.

Purpose: You are writing to show your audience how important and misunderstood revision is for novice writers.

Audience: You are writing to a novice writer who is just about to begin his/her college career.

Form, Structure, and Content:

You have already composed large chunks of this essay as you worked through the Week 5 Module and the beginning of this Module. Think about the writing situation above, and think about how you can put those chunks together in a way that causes them to flow together and create a unified and coherent whole. Write transitions so that each chunk of your essay "talks" to the next one, and make any necessary changes to be sure that the essay as a whole is perfect for its intended audience. Follow the outline below for constructing your essay:

Chunk 1: Begin with a narrative hook to pull the reader in: your story about yourself as a novice writer, doing revision wrong. (*Refer back to your "Newbie Writer" story)

Newbie Writer

When I started writing, I thought I was doing greatuntil I submitted my first essay in high school. I remember being confident and thinking my ideas and writing were solid. When the teacher handed it back, I was shocked to see it covered in red marks and comments like, "What do you mean here?" and "Needs more explanation." I felt embarrassed and frustrated. I could not understand why what made sense in my head did not translate onto the paper. One of my worst mistakes was using big, fancy words to sound more "sophisticated." I thought throwing in complex words would make my writing stand out, but I missed them, confusing my essay. I learned that it's better to use simple, straightforward language and focus on communicating ideas effectively rather than trying to impress with vocabulary. Another newbie mistake was not knowing how to organize my thoughts. My essay jumped from one idea to another without proper transitions, making it hard for anyone to follow. My paragraphs were like islands of random information instead of being connected and flowing. It felt like I had so much to say but didn't know how to piece it together. That experience made me realize the importance of creating outlines and planning before diving into writing. Looking back, I realize those early mistakes were crucial for my writing growth. They taught me to embrace feedback, even when it stings, and to always aim for clarity in my work. They also taught me not to repeat the same mistake and learn from it. I've learned over time that writing isn't about getting it right the first time. It's about learning, and I have also learned that editing your essay is an essential phase in the writing process for increasing your overall efficacy and determining what your story is genuinely about.

Chunk 2: Summary of Donald Murray's "The Maker's Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts" (*You did this in the previous Module)

Chunk 3-4: Your 2 opinions, ideas, or tips for revision, supported by analysis of concepts from Murray's article, using the Schaffer Method, clear logic, and relatable, relevant examples (*Refer back to the "2 Opinions" piece you wrote earlier in this Module)

Paragraph 1: In pursuance of revisions for enhancement One way a student might end up becoming a better writer is by learning the fact that revising is not punishment but a necessary and enriching aspect of the writing process. In fact, even Donald Murray himself underscores this perspective with the statement, "Revision is not an act of despair but an act of faith." It would therefore suggest writers look at revision as an opportunity for growth rather than a chore to be hated. The revision process refines ideas, clarifies arguments, and communicates messages better. Using this strategy, a writer can be optimistic because each draft will bring a new opportunity for clarity and improvement. Murray further explains that effective revision involves looking at your work not as an area of errors but as a piece of art for exploration and innovation. He continues on to comment that "a writer's work is never done, and each version of a story is a chance to know it more deeply." This confirms the discovery made that revision solidifies an understanding of what she is writing about and improves her ability to say it. With each draft, one achieves the plateau of insight to the themes and arguments under explication, as an artist going back to a canvas to add new colors and make the painting even better. In order to take full advantage of the revision process, writers need to work more methodically. Some effective strategies to get things moving include reading their drafts aloud, getting feedback from peers, or setting their manuscripts aside for a certain period and coming back to them with fresh eyes. All these strategies make it easy for writers to see their work through other eyes and spot all the loopholes they might have had. This kind of a positive attitude will enable students to grow more resilient and open in their own writing activities. Such a change of minds toward revision as a step towards success rather than a burden to be borne makes it easier for students not just to work more strongly with their writing but also to improve their relationships with the process itself. When he or she realizes the fact that there is an intrinsic value in revision, any writer will realize this step of the writing process as a leading one in his or her development, rather than something he or she has to do only because it has to be done.

Chunk 5: Conclusion (Consider closing with a call-to-action for the reader, letting them know what to do with the information you've given them, moving forward)

Follow the outline above for developing your essay

Give your essay a creative title

W r i t e between 6 0 0 and 1 ,0 0 0 w o rd s.