SWA #8

For most large pieces of writing I usually start by creating a rough outline which consists usually of a web type diagram. After I do this I usually just sit down in one sitting and type my rough draft revising it as I go and after this I read through it. The idea of revising my paper after I am completely done with it is probably a better idea than trying to edit it as I go along. The idea of writing the paper then looking at it as a whole to determine the organization of the paper would be very beneficial to me. I feel that often I have the right information but I just present it in the wrong way.
Outlining ideas before you start writing can be very beneficial for organizing your ideas. It allows you to get your ideas onto paper in a less formal setting. It gives you the chance to just write not worrying about the less important pieces of the paper as much as the content of what you are writing. Outlines also provide a guide for you when writing which allows the writing of the first draft to be less stressful and take less time.
One specific suggestion to help revise a paper is the idea of is it clear or not. This is very important to writing a paper, if you can not understand it neither can the reader. This can be used in my specific case in that often I am unclear when writing so if I took more time to make sure I understand what I wrote then my paper would be more clear and easier to understand. Another suggestion for revision is the idea of is there enough variety. Variety in papers makes the paper more interesting. By varying my sentence types and the arrangement of my paragraphs I can easily improve my paper. By including more complex sentences and shorter and longer paragraph the paper would benefit. One final suggestion for revision is the idea of following the grammatical rules. Often times grammar is a subject that has been on the back burner with the introduction of spell check. While spell check does check spelling and basic grammar it cannot check more advanced grammar. There are many things that affect writing especially tense, pronoun references and also subject verb agreement. By fixing these my paper will be much improved.
Exploratory essay allows you to investigate various angles of an argument or a statement by analyzing all sides of the argument which makes a paper that is well rounded on all sides. My paper in particular is about the differences of assisted suicide, euthanasia, and killing. It will explore what constitutes each one of these topics. It paves the way for the position paper in that it allows me to learn about all sides of the issue and then to create an opinion on the issue. This opinion will be based on the information collected in the paper.
Peer revision is where you have another person of similar age review and provide suggestions on your paper. It can be done where small groups of students read each individual paper and respond on it or where the group discusses the papers individually. The teacher can be part of the action or it could be where two students exchange papers and take them home which gives them more opportunity to provide comments. I like when the papers are discussed as a group because it provides more peoples points of view. Peer review is good because it gives you an alternate viewpoint. They could see something that you might not have or they could know a better way to revise a certain part.