Task: Beginning a Global Revision
Situation: For use with clients who have enough time for, and come in with a
draft that needs a complete overhaul. It will probably help you to
sell the idea to them if you can assure them that rewriting is not
as much work as it would be to throw out the original and start
from scratch.
Instructions: This is just the beginning, and so the point is to get the client
started with enough energy and enthusiasm to carry the revision
through to completion. As noted above, you may really have to
“sell” the idea of revision to the client, and you should be
prepared to do this.
Prior to the task you should have a conversation with the client
about the topic, the evidence being used (and the claims about
that evidence), and what it is that the client is learning (or hopes
to learn) about the topic. Note that you do not have to use the
word, “thesis,” to have this conversation. So don’t bring it up. If
the client does, fine, but don’t be distracted by it.
Based on this conversation, have the client free-write for 10
minutes on whichever of the three issues above (topic, evidence
& claims, what the client is learning) you both agree needs most
to be addressed. For this purpose, “free-write” means that the
client writes or types as rapidly and constantly as possible (trying
never to stop), without referring to the draft or any other text
(working only from memory), and with no concern for spelling,
grammar, etc. (no strikethroughs or backspacing allowed). Tell
the client, “if you get stuck, just keep writing/typing, even if all
that makes it onto the page is ‘I’m stuck I’m stuck I’m stuck I’m
stuck . . .’” The point is to access the client’s subconscious
knowledge by denying the conscious mind the opportunity to
filter. It’s an effective technique if used properly, but it only
works if the conscious filter is shut down (every time the client
stops writing, that’s the filter kicking in).
When the client’s finished, go over the text (client reads, of
course). As a rule, the stuff towards the end will be the most
interesting and enlightening. Then go over the draft again so the
client can note all the places that can be changed according to
this new perspective.
Outcome: With luck, a new perspective on the draft and some confidence
about what needs to change, and how to change it.