1: Media Information: Communicate information and ideas effectively using a variety of media and formats
I have heard it said, I forget where now, that editing is where the real writing happens.
What does editing really mean?
Task: Listen to this Youtube and consider the advice given here. Is there anything here that might help you?
So what is my advice?
Let it go cold
Read it aloud
Change 'I' to he or she...
Check use of linguistic devices and sensual description
Round down your number of words so that you consider the value of each of your words/sentences
Consider cutting the order.
Check your spelling and punctuation
Consider your paragraphing... play with this... eg try using a one-line short paragraph...
Share it with someone who will hopefully not be too critical and hopefully will not be too congratulatory.
Preparation for final presentation:
1) Copy the text you wish to edit at the end of the portfolio piece. (This will allow for you and I to be able to see what the editing process adds/changes. It also adds security for you to change anything without worrying you may lose what you already have.
2) Look at the editing advice above and try out the different suggestions. You may also want to look back over the previous material to consider what we were looking to learn in each- does your work show evidence of this learning?
Extension: Thematic Statements
You may remember when we read Outsiders we talked about a range of themes that were evident in the text. What is your theme? This website explains what a theme is and suggests you may like to try to write a thematic statement.
Which of these is a good thematic statement for the Outsiders?
Social Class
All social classes face challenges
We are individuals
We are not defined by our social class
Love conquers all
What theme (issue) might your story touch upon? How might you advance this? Try writing a thematic statement for your short story. What might you do to add to this and help clarify this to a reader? This might even be as simple as changing the title. It might mean adding a side story that helps illustrate this. (Remember stories can have more than one seemingly unconnected event.)
Extension: Developing your theme
By watching videos such as these we can find out more and educate ourselves... then if we take a nugget of information we can use this. This can help avoid just sharing cliche or misinformation. It also helps make our work interesting. Sebastian Faulks (an excellent writer) suggests that you should always give your reader something they did not know before they read your story.
Extension: Developing your theme