Editing Workshop
Learn
In this lesson, you will apply your close reading skills to revise and strengthen analytical writing. Good readers make good editors because they know how to identify key ideas, spot weaknesses, and ensure that evidence supports claims.
Using Close Reading Skills for Editing
The same strategies you use to analyze texts can help you edit your own writing:
Annotation Strategies for Editing
- Circle key claims: Is your main point clear?
- Underline textual evidence: Have you included specific quotes or details from the text?
- Mark explanations: Have you explained how evidence supports your claim?
- Note questions: Are there gaps in your reasoning?
Text Analysis for Editing
- Check that your analysis addresses the author's purpose
- Verify that you discuss literary devices or techniques
- Ensure your interpretation is supported by text evidence
- Look for logical flow from claim to evidence to explanation
Common Weaknesses in Analytical Writing
| Problem | Example | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Vague claim | "The author uses good words." | Be specific: "The author uses vivid imagery to create a sense of danger." |
| Missing evidence | "The character is brave." | Add a quote: "The character is brave, as shown when she 'stepped into the darkness without hesitation.'" |
| Quote dropping | Inserting quotes without context or explanation. | Introduce quotes and explain their significance. |
| Retelling, not analyzing | "First this happened, then that happened." | Focus on why events matter and what they reveal. |
| Weak transitions | Ideas feel disconnected. | Use transitions like "Furthermore," "In contrast," "This reveals that..." |
The EDIT Checklist
Use this checklist when revising analytical writing:
- Evidence: Do I have specific textual evidence?
- Depth: Have I analyzed, not just summarized?
- Integration: Are quotes smoothly woven into my sentences?
- Transitions: Do my ideas flow logically?
Examples
Example 1: Revising a Weak Analysis
Original Draft:
"The author describes the setting. The forest is dark and scary. This shows that bad things will happen."
Problems Identified:
- No specific evidence from the text
- Vague language ("scary," "bad things")
- Missing analysis of author's technique
Revised Version:
"The author creates a foreboding atmosphere through dark imagery in the forest setting. Phrases like 'the trees loomed like silent giants' and 'shadows crept across the path' suggest danger lurking ahead. This use of personification transforms the natural setting into a threatening presence, foreshadowing the conflict the protagonist will soon face."
Example 2: Integrating Quotes Effectively
Quote Dropping (Weak):
"The character changes. 'I finally understood what courage really meant.' The character is brave now."
Integrated Quote (Strong):
"The protagonist's transformation is evident in her reflection that she 'finally understood what courage really meant.' This moment of realization marks her shift from fearful child to confident young woman, demonstrating the story's theme of personal growth."
Practice
Complete these editing exercises to strengthen your revision skills.
Practice 1: Identify the Weaknesses
Read this analytical paragraph and list three specific weaknesses:
"The poem is about nature. The author talks about trees and birds. It makes you feel happy. I think the author likes nature alot. The poem is good."
Practice 2: Make the Claim Specific
Rewrite this vague claim to be analytical and specific:
"The story is interesting because of the characters."
Practice 3: Add Textual Evidence
Revise this paragraph by adding specific textual evidence (you may create reasonable quotes):
"The author shows that the main character is conflicted. He doesn't know what to do. He feels torn between two choices."
Practice 4: Analyze, Don't Summarize
Revise this summary-focused paragraph into an analytical one:
"In the story, the boy goes to the store. He sees a toy he wants. He doesn't have enough money. He goes home sad."
Practice 5: Integrate Quotes
Rewrite these sentences to integrate the quote smoothly:
"The speaker is lonely. 'I wandered lonely as a cloud.' This shows loneliness."
Practice 6: Add Explanation
This paragraph has a claim and evidence but no explanation. Add 2-3 sentences that analyze the significance:
"The author uses repetition to create emphasis. The phrase 'never again' appears five times in the final paragraph. [ADD EXPLANATION HERE]"
Practice 7: Fix the Transitions
Add appropriate transitions to connect these sentences into a smooth paragraph:
"The setting reflects the character's emotions. _____ the dark, stormy weather mirrors her inner turmoil. _____ the sudden appearance of sunshine coincides with her moment of hope. _____ the weather serves as a symbolic representation of the protagonist's journey."
Practice 8: Complete Revision
Revise this paragraph using all your editing skills:
"The book has good simbolism. Their are alot of symbols. One symbol is the river. The river means something. It shows change or something. The author is really good at symbols."
Practice 9: Peer Editing
Using the EDIT checklist, evaluate this paragraph and suggest three specific improvements:
"In 'The Giver,' Jonas changes a lot. At first he is just a normal kid. Then he becomes the Receiver. He learns about pain and love. He decides to leave the community. This shows he is brave."
Practice 10: SAT/ACT Style Question
Choose the best revision for the underlined portion:
"The author's use of foreshadowing is seen when she hints about the ending at the beginning of the story when the character looks at the old photograph."
- NO CHANGE
- appears when the character examines an old photograph, hinting at the story's tragic conclusion
- is foreshadowing when she foreshadows the ending
- is when there are hints
Sample Answers
Click to reveal sample answers
Practice 1: Weaknesses: 1) No textual evidence or quotes, 2) Vague language ("good," "something"), 3) No analysis of literary devices or author's technique, 4) Spelling error ("alot").
Practice 2: "The story's complex protagonist, torn between loyalty to family and personal ambition, creates compelling dramatic tension that drives the narrative forward."
Practice 3: "The author reveals the main character's internal conflict through his hesitant actions and fragmented thoughts. When faced with his decision, he 'stood frozen at the crossroads, his heart pulling in two directions.' His inability to choose demonstrates the weight of his dilemma."
Practice 4: "Through the boy's experience at the store, the author explores the painful gap between desire and reality that children must learn to navigate. The toy represents not just a material object but the boy's longing for joy and fulfillment, making his inability to afford it a lesson in disappointment and delayed gratification."
Practice 5: "The speaker's comparison of himself to a cloud 'wandering lonely' establishes a tone of isolation that pervades the entire poem, suggesting a profound disconnection from human society."
Practice 6: "This repetition of 'never again' creates a rhythmic insistence that emphasizes the speaker's firm resolve. Each recurrence strengthens the reader's understanding of how deeply the experience has affected the character, transforming a simple phrase into a powerful declaration of changed perspective."
Practice 7: "Specifically, the dark, stormy weather mirrors her inner turmoil. Later, the sudden appearance of sunshine coincides with her moment of hope. Thus, the weather serves as a symbolic representation of the protagonist's journey."
Practice 8: "The author employs rich symbolism throughout the novel, with the river serving as a central image. As the protagonist journeys downstream, the flowing water represents both the passage of time and the irreversible nature of change. This symbol reinforces the theme that life, like a river, moves ever forward, carrying us away from the past."
Practice 9: Improvements: 1) Add specific textual evidence with quotes from the novel, 2) Replace summary ("at first...then...then") with analysis of WHY Jonas changes, 3) Explain what his bravery reveals about the novel's themes of individual freedom vs. collective control.
Practice 10: B - This option is concise, specific, and maintains proper sentence structure without redundancy.
Check Your Understanding
- What are the four elements of the EDIT checklist?
- What is "quote dropping" and how do you fix it?
- What is the difference between summarizing and analyzing?
- Name three ways to integrate quotes into your writing.
- How can annotation strategies help you edit your own work?
Click to check your answers
- Evidence (specific textual evidence), Depth (analysis not summary), Integration (smooth quote incorporation), Transitions (logical flow).
- Quote dropping is inserting quotes without context or explanation. Fix it by introducing the quote with context and following it with analysis of its significance.
- Summarizing tells what happens; analyzing explains why it matters, what techniques the author uses, and what deeper meaning is conveyed.
- Signal phrases ("According to the author..."), embedded quotes (weave short phrases into your sentence), block quotes with introduction and follow-up analysis.
- Circling claims helps verify they're clear; underlining evidence ensures you've included support; marking explanations confirms you've analyzed; noting questions reveals gaps.
Next Steps
- Apply the EDIT checklist to your next writing assignment
- Practice revising your own analytical paragraphs
- Complete the Unit Checkpoint to test your close reading mastery