Revising and Organising

Revising and Organising

Revising: Revising is more than just proofreading. It's about re-seeing your work from a fresh perspective and making substantial changes to improve its clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness. This is especially important in literary studies where nuanced arguments and interpretations are key.

Global Revision: Start with global revisions, focusing on the big picture.

• Argument: Is your argument clear, logical, and well-supported? Does it address the research problem you identified?

• Organisation: Are your ideas organised in a way that is easy to follow? Does your paper flow smoothly from one point to the next?

• Evidence: Is your evidence relevant and persuasive? Have you analysed it effectively to support your argument?

Local Revision: Once you're happy with the overall structure and argument, move on to local revisions.

• Clarity: Is your writing clear and concise? Are your sentences easy to understand?

• Style: Is your writing style appropriate for your audience and purpose? Have you used appropriate terminology and tone?

• Grammar and Mechanics: Are there any errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling?

Organising: Ensure that your argument is organised logically and that your ideas flow smoothly from one to the next.

• Structure: Use topic sentences, transitions, and headings to guide the reader through your paper.

• Paragraphing: Pay attention to paragraphing. Each paragraph should focus on a single idea and contribute to the overall argument of your paper.

• Transitions: Use transitions effectively to connect your ideas and show the relationship between different parts of your argument.

Feedback: Seek feedback from others on your revised draft. This could be from your professor, classmates, or friends. Feedback can help you identify areas for improvement that you might have missed.

Example:

Having drafted my paper on Klara and the Sun, I would now embark on the crucial stage of revising and organising. First, I'd undertake global revisions, rereading the entire paper with a critical eye. Does my argument about Klara's narrative voice convincingly address the complexities of consciousness and human connection as explored in the novel? Is the analysis of Klara's observations and interpretations of the human world insightful and well-supported by textual evidence? Do I effectively acknowledge and respond to potential counterarguments, such as the idea that Klara, as an AF, cannot truly understand human emotions? Next, I'd move to local revisions, fine-tuning each sentence for clarity and style.  Have I used precise language to describe Klara's observations and Ishiguro's narrative techniques?  Are my sentences concise and engaging, avoiding unnecessary jargon or convoluted phrasing? Throughout this process, I would pay close attention to the organisation and flow of my ideas, ensuring smooth transitions between paragraphs and a coherent structure that guides the reader through my argument. Finally, I would seek feedback from my professor or peers, welcoming their insights and suggestions for further refinement.

Preparation Activity: Revising and Organising

Reading: Chapter 11: Revising and Organising

Instructions:

1. Revisit your draft: Take some time away from your research proposal draft (from Week 10's homework) to gain some distance and a fresh perspective.

2. Global Revision: Reread your draft with a focus on global revisions. Consider these key questions:

   1. Argument: Is your central argument clear, logical, and persuasive? Does it directly address your research question and problem?

   2. Organisation: Is your proposal organised logically? Do the sections flow smoothly and build upon each other? Would reordering any sections improve the clarity or impact of your argument?

   3. Evidence: Is the evidence you've presented relevant and convincing? Have you analysed it effectively to support your claims? Do you need more evidence, or could some be removed without weakening your argument?

3. Local Revision: After addressing global concerns, move on to local revisions:

   1. Clarity: Is your writing clear and concise? Are your sentences easy to understand? Could any sentences be rewritten for improved clarity or conciseness?

   2. Style: Is your writing style appropriate for a research proposal in the humanities? Have you used precise terminology and maintained a formal tone?

   3. Grammar and Mechanics: Proofread carefully for any errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling.

4. Organising: Pay close attention to the organisation and flow of your proposal.

   1. Transitions: Have you used effective transition words and phrases to connect your ideas and guide the reader through your argument?

   2. Paragraphing: Is each paragraph focused on a single idea? Are any paragraphs too long or too short?

   3. Headings: Are headings and subheadings used effectively to structure the proposal and improve readability?

5. Submission: Submit a revised draft of your research proposal, with a separate paragraph explaining the significant changes you made during the revision process.

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Class Outline: Revising and Organising

Objectives:

• Guide students in applying global and local revision strategies to their research proposals.

• Provide practical advice and techniques for organising and structuring research proposals effectively.

• Offer feedback and support on students' revised drafts.

Activities:

1. Recap: Briefly review the key elements of a strong research proposal, emphasising the importance of clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness.

2. Global Revision Strategies

• Discuss the concept of global revision and its importance in refining the overall argument and structure of a research proposal.

• Brainstorm common issues that arise during the drafting process and how to address them through global revisions.

• Share examples of effective and ineffective research proposal introductions and conclusions, highlighting the importance of clarity and engagement.

3. Peer Feedback on Organisation

• Have students exchange revised drafts with a partner.

• Provide a structured peer feedback activity, focusing on the organisation and flow of ideas within the proposals.

• Encourage students to provide constructive feedback on clarity, transitions, paragraphing, and use of headings.

4. Local Revision Techniques

• Discuss strategies for improving sentence-level clarity, conciseness, and style.

• Provide examples and exercises on refining word choice, sentence structure, and punctuation for enhanced readability and impact.

5. Wrap-up: Summarise key takeaways from the session, emphasizing the importance of revision and organisation in producing a polished and persuasive research proposal

Reading for Next Week: 

Chapter 16: Research Presentations

Chapter 13: Communicating Evidence Visually