Nancy Sommers article about revision challenges the reader to think about what exactly it means to “revise” a piece of written work. According to a study performed by the author, there are various definitions about revision between individuals. The study focuses on the different characterizations between a group of college freshmen and a group of more experienced writers on what it means to revise. In this study, the individuals in each group were asked to write three separate essays and then submit two revised drafts for each essay. They were then asked various questions concerning the way they view revision and how someone should go about it. It was concluded that those with more experience in writing had more insightful methods of going about revision. Most of the students demonstrated that their main concern when revising was simply rewording sentences and focusing on small portions of their work at a time. Those with more experience demonstrated that when revising they look at their piece as a whole, as a way to expand their ideas and possibly change their original intentions. This idea of individuals having different definitions of revision and the writing process itself can stem to he article, “Processes” in which it is stated that context influences invention.
When I refer to revising, I am guilty of not understanding what exactly the definition is and how to go about it. I view the revision process as do the students from the study. I typically do not revise unless I am told to, and when I do, it is mainly correcting grammatical errors or rearranging a few phrases here and there in order to make my points sound better. However, I do also associate with the more experienced writers in that I tend to revise, although I do not consider it as revision, as I go along with my writing. When I write, I typically begin to make changes as I do so, adding more ideas when I can. I, however, have not considered this as part of the revision process, although it appears to be according to the experienced writers’ definition of revising. This article related to previously read articles from our class in that it also associates with the process of reading and writing. Like the others, it demonstrates how each individual has a certain background, or context, that influences their ideas and writing processes.
When I refer to revising, I am guilty of not understanding what exactly the definition is and how to go about it. I view the revision process as do the students from the study. I typically do not revise unless I am told to, and when I do, it is mainly correcting grammatical errors or rearranging a few phrases here and there in order to make my points sound better. However, I do also associate with the more experienced writers in that I tend to revise, although I do not consider it as revision, as I go along with my writing. When I write, I typically begin to make changes as I do so, adding more ideas when I can. I, however, have not considered this as part of the revision process, although it appears to be according to the experienced writers’ definition of revising. This article related to previously read articles from our class in that it also associates with the process of reading and writing. Like the others, it demonstrates how each individual has a certain background, or context, that influences their ideas and writing processes.