Kristi Henry

Eng 516

May 22, 2003

Revision Revisited

I have always felt that revision was the most important step in the writing process. I believe that the best way to improve one’s writing skills is to spend time on revision. At its finest, it may take as much time as drafting, and sometimes more, and this added time is where we learn about our writing. Unfortunately, hurried students often overlook revision, or equate this step with using a spell checking program. Often, using spell check has replaced physically re-reading a draft. In spite of this, it is my belief that using computers can significantly improve to revision process in a way that no other tool can.

When I speak of the improvements that computers can bring to revision, I am not just speaking of the time saved from rewriting by hand or retyping on a typewriter. I am speaking of better uses for the time saved. Typically, my students will write a rough draft, occasionally edit it for basic spelling and punctuation mistakes, and hand in what they believe is a final draft. What I feel they have given me is a pile of Not-As-Rough-As-Before-But-Still-Needing-Attention drafts. Computers can deepen the process of revision to include more extreme polishing, intense editing, and a more focused look at a piece of writing. I feel that by spending more time on revision, specifically computer-based revision, students will spend more time thinking about their writing. It’s the added thought and the second and third looks at a piece of writing in revision that will ultimately improve writing.