Lesson plan
Polish to Publish
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to use editing symbols and explain revision tools used in word processing.
Introduction
(5 minutes)- Discuss: Why do writers revise?
- Point out the purposes of revision: to ensure that writing is clear, concise, error-free, and well crafted.
- Ask students: What tools do writers have to revise and polish their writing?
- In the discussion, touch on both handwritten revision tools (editing symbols and peer readers) and word processing tools.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(20 minutes)- Focus on word processing tools first. Generate a list of tools that are used in software programs with which your students are familiar.
- Distribute the worksheet Word Processing Basics.
- Instruct students to work in partners or small groups to match the word processing tool with the explanation.
- Review the correct answers and demonstrate use of each revision tool by projecting an electronic document, if possible. Explain how and why each tool is useful.
Guided Practice
(10 minutes)- Distribute the worksheet Polishing Practice 1.
- Review the word processing symbols on the sheet.
- Add any symbols that your class has used that are not on the sheet.
- Go over the story as a class and model how to use the editing symbols to mark the errors.
Independent working time
(20 minutes)- Distribute the worksheet Polishing Practice 2.
- Review the instructions.
- Instruct students to complete the editing activity on their own.
- Go over editing errors and allow students to share story endings.
Differentiation
-
Support: Complete the first editing portion of Polishing Practice 2 as class or in a small group.
- Enrichment: Have students explore other editing symbols and word processing tools and share them with the class.
Assessment
(5 minutes)- Write a sentence on the board that has several different kinds of errors.
- Instruct students to copy the sentence and use editing symbols to make corrections.
Review and closing
(5 minutes)- Discuss: What is it like to read writing that has a lot of errors?
- Discuss: If you received an important letter and it had a lot of errors, how would that affect the message in the letter?
Related learning resources
Polish to Publish
Lesson plan
Polish to Publish
...Ask students: What tools do writers have to revise and polish their writing?...
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
Polishing Practice 2
Worksheet
Polishing Practice 2
Show students editing symbols that are used to polish writing before publishing. Then, have them practice editing a short story.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Polishing Practice 1
Worksheet
Polishing Practice 1
Show students editing symbols that are used to polish writing before publishing. Then, have them practice editing a short story.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Polishing Writing: Editing Symbols and Tips for Writing on the Computer
Worksheet
Polishing Writing: Editing Symbols and Tips for Writing on the Computer
This activity will serve as a resource to help your writers understand some basic strategies and copyediting symbols for polishing their writing.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
