Response to Revision Reading in The Curious Researcher
The beginning of the chapter about revising for purpose started off talking about how someone might be reluctant to revise their writing. I actually am just the opposite, I enjoy revising to make my writing better, finding a way to enhance my readers understanding. In the Air Force we had a saying, “No pride in authorship”.
The next pages on showing how to reassemble in cut-and-paste revision and the use of the highlighters are excellent ideas and show how you should organize your ideas even if you don’t use those methods. The breakdown of the questions to ask a reader for feedback are an excellent place to start with yourself before you even begin revising your paper. Although I am not really fond of the cut-and-paste revision process as an actual act, it does point out many processes that are useful such as finding, and building up from, the core paragraph.
To me, the most useful part of this reading is the Revising for Information section that relates not only how to dig for more information, but that we should dig. This allows the author of the paper to add information that may make their point clearer or more pertinent.
The last part on how something is said and not just what is said, or the voice it is said in, is a problem I think most beginning writers might overlook. However, one point this portion made me think of that wasn’t mentioned was to read and revise for punctuation. Nothing can ruin a well written and thought out paper faster than a poorly placed period or quotation mark.
Overall, I would say this reading has been the most helpful oout of all of the readings from The Curious Researcher.