Writing Revisions
Free Help!
You can revise all formal summative writing within two weeks of receiving your score, after meeting with Mr. Bird for writing conference sessions.
What do do before coming to your essay revision appointment.
1. Schedule a Writing Conference
I am available to help during Office Hours, or during my prep period (period 6). We can also meet after school. You must schedule a writing conference beforehand to ensure I do not have other meetings booked at that time.
2. Carefully Re-Read Your Essay, and take notes:
Using the rubric as a guide, annotate your own essay.
Look first at your Thesis; does it satisfy the requirements?
For the rest, consider each BP one at a time:
What is the primary claim of the BP? Highlight it.
Is this an essential claim needed to prove your thesis?
Are there additional claims in the BP that should be separated out? Mark these if present.
Is evidence/support given? Underline it.
Is the evidence/support explained in detail? Is a line of reasoning developed? Is it clearly connected to the thesis? Circle the places where you connect the evidence to your line of reasoning.
Additionally, consider the paper as a whole:
Have you addressed perspectives and considerations beyond your own position? Highlight where this occurs and label.
Have you addressed the limits to your arguments? Highlight where this occurs and label.
Is the language used in a way to reinforce the persuasiveness of the argument? Highlight key words or short phrases you feel contribute to the persuasiveness.
3. Show Up To Your Scheduled Conference:
If you show up to the conference without thoughtfully completed annotations, it will severely limit what we can accomplish. Well prepared students can usually be ready to revise a paper after 2-3 conferences; less prepared students might require additional ones. Regardless, I am here to help you make that paper sing, no matter what it takes. I'm excited to work with you.