Starting out in the beginning of the semester it was hard for me to figure out how to revise my own paper. Once I got further into the semester it was easier for me to understand. I chose my second project because I feel as if I worked the hardest at it. That being said, in my first draft I hardly focused on things like my thesis statement or even my opening paragraph all that much. It was easier to start with the “meat” and then end with the “buns”. I also didn’t focus on spelling or grammar, but when I think I’m officially done with my paper, I read it out loud to catch any outstanding mistakes. In my first draft I also didn’t really focus on quotes all that much. I tend to write exactly what I think in my first draft, and then go in and add quotes and back the quotes up later on. It helps me if I sit down and just write what I feel, because then I can go back and fix it in my drafts later on. Global revision is the hardest part about editing my paper. It’s hard to go in and say “this quote isn’t strong enough” because I’m the one who picked it in the first place. That being said, I try really hard to focus on the “big question” I’m trying to answer, and I ask myself if the quote really answers the question, or actually can back it up. Overall, I’m way lazier in my first drafts than I am in my last drafts which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because I still get done what needs to be done.
