Reading Response: Revising your rough draft

Chapter 5 in The Curious Researcher contains a very well thought out scheme of exercises that should be considered while “revising” your rough draft. My favorite of these 4 exercises was exercise 5.2 “Dissecting the Fish.” Three simple steps including: “writing down your thesis, listing at least three questions your thesis raises, and rewriting a new thesis at least three times playing with the language, arrangement, information, or getting more specific about what you are saying” (Belanger 227). This exercise will get you ready for the next exercises by reintroducing you to your main thesis and how you can make it better. It will also refresh your memory on your topic and may raise new ideas you feel important to include in your final draft. Revising your draft is the most important part of writing any academic paper. It is the time when you take all of the information you have gathered and you present it in a more formal and understandable way. One way of revising your draft is by asking for help. “Ask a friend” to read your rough draft and get his or her opinion on your topic and the information you provide. This is very critical in helping ‘you’ see your paper’s faults and the things that make your paper the strongest (229). The “cut-and-paste” exercise is also a very useful strategy to use while beginning your revision. It involves printing an extra copy of your first draft, cutting “paragraph by paragraph,” shuffling the stack, taking out the “core paragraph,” and rearranging the paragraphs, getting rid of irrelevant ones, so all that remains is your main point and the “relevant” information you have to support your point (231). The author Bruce Ballenger suggested using “Verbal gestures” while revising your paper. I think it is a good idea because verbal can “provide background” or “signal analysis” even “signify speculation” or “indicate alignment.” Providing background helps people understand what you already said. Signaling analysis examines or criticizes something someone said. Signifying speculation is important in helping the “writer” think clearer. Indicating alignment involves making your analysis and research match the side you are taking. If you follow these simple steps described in this chapter you should have know trouble ending with a well written, well educated academic paper, deserving an A (232).