Writing English essays and history research papers can be complicated and overwhelming. This is why so many students ask their parents to help them with their homework by editing their papers. Unfortunately, the process of editing can be as intimidating as the act of writing a paper! This article serves as a guide for both parents and students looking to strengthen a high school English paper. Much of the tips come from 'Ten Tips for Effective Editing,' an article by Sharon Schuman.
According to Schuman, one of the most important changes that can be made to most essays is changing the verb usage from passive to active voice. This makes the writing more direct, indicating who is responsible for an action and elimination unnecessary words, often makes it easier to read. An example of passive/active voice is the following:
Another tip for editing essays is to avoid the verb 'to be.' Words such as 'is,' 'was' and 'were' makes other verbs into nouns. By getting into the habit of continuously using 'to be,' students fail to learn how to properly use other verbs or expand their vocabulary. 'To be' also make students slip into passive voice. This also encourages writers to use many prepositions. Prepositions tend to extend sentences and make them wordier than necessary. Therefore, by encouraging the student to eliminate their 'to be' verbs, adults can also help them eliminate prepositional phrases and passive voice.
Students also need to be aware of where they are placing modifiers. Since a modifier is used specifically for another word, it should be placed next to the word it is modifying. This makes writing more precise, clarifying arguments and strengthening the overall effect of an essay. An example of a misplaced modifier and the correct version of the sentence follow:
Another key to an impressive essay is avoiding the repetition of vocabulary and grammatical structures. Students often fall into the trap of using the same words, sentence length and structure throughout an essay. This is because they have found something that works for them and are afraid to stray from it. Parents can encourage students to grow in their writing by challenging them to use new words and vary their sentence length. This adds variety to an essay, making them more enjoyable to read and sound more scholarly.
Lastly, it is important that a student uses logic in their writing. The best way to correct illogical statements is to eliminate them. This works with any sentence that does not flow logically from the previous one, flow logically into the next sentence or just does not sound right. This will probably be extremely hard for a student to do to begin with because they have put so much effort into their writing. However, in the long run, it will strengthen their essay and the work they put into their next writing assignments.
As indicated, there is much a parent can do to help their student with their essays and other writing assignments. The best way to help students is to be gentle with the editing. Do not try to edit an essay all at once. This will discourage the student. Instead, have them write several drafts, strengthening or eliminating sentences as the assignment progresses. The time that is spent editing and rewriting the essay will be well worth it in the long run. Students will strengthen their writing and become more confident with their future essays.
by: math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org