The Revision Process and Writing
Reflectively
“Throws Like the Girl She Is” and
“Punk’s Not Dead”
Reading Like a Writer: “Throws Like
the Girl She Is” p. 264
• How has the particular subculture (in this case, a
softball league) had an influence on this author’s
identity?
– Be as specific as possible.
– Are you as specific as this author is in your essay?
• Which examples and stories that the author tells
are particularly effective?
– Have you picked the most relevant, effective stories
and examples to support your thesis in your essay?
“Throws Like the Girl She Is” p. 264
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“Like a Girl” Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs
Mythbusters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5Xm5u7UDM
• In addition to the idea of “throws like a girl” being an insult or
not, what other important ideas does this essay discuss?
• Do you think that sports can represent more than just
an activity for some people, but can also represent a
culture, a family, a place to belong? Examples?
Thinking Like a Writer: “Punk’s Not
Dead” p. 554
• What are some of stereotypes the author and his
friends faced because they were part of the punk
subculture? You might find it useful to compare the
way this author writes about his experience with other
authors we have read.
• What do you think of how the author depicts the punk
subculture as a place for community?
• Notice the level of specificity the author uses. He
quotes specific lyrics from songs, tells several stories
about specific defining moments in his involvement in
the punk subculture, etc. Choose one of these specific
passages and discuss how it contributes to the essay as
a whole.
The Revision Process
• “Revision” means “to see again,” hopefully with a new
perspective provided by your peers.
• Don’t be afraid to make major changes.
• Think of the pieces of your essay as building blocks. You
can move them around, try them in different orders until
you find the one that works.
• Don’t be afraid to cut. Sometimes, we have to write for a
while to find the good stuff, but that means that we need
to get rid of the not-so-good stuff that came first.
• Don’t be afraid to add new material to your essay. If your
group pointed out an area that lacked detail, you might find
yourself writing new sentences, and perhaps even new
paragraphs.
Revision Time
• There is no one-size-fits-all advice about your papers, but
here are some suggestions:
• Work on the issues identified by your peers. Incorporate
new ideas that came up during peer review.
• Many drafts I looked at had uncited sources or overuse of
cited sources. Work on the balance of your own words and
your sources.
• Other drafts I saw did not have enough sources. Remember,
you must have THREE sources in the body of your paper,
either direct quotes or paraphrases.
• Do more research. Work on deepening your understanding
of your topic.
• Do more reflection. How is your experience as a member
of your culture or subculture unique to you?
Writing Reflectively
When we reflect, we don't simply tell what
happened. We also think about…
– Why it happened
– What patterns/attitudes influenced events
– How we felt about what happened
– How what happened continued to affect us
– How what happened fits into the "big picture" of
human experience
– And, of course, what we learned/realized
Tips for writing reflectively:
• Be honest. Don't worry about "revealing too
much." This class is a safe place to reflect and
express yourself.
• Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Good
writing tends to make lots of people (including
the author) uncomfortable. Work through
your discomfort and see what you end up
with.
Writing Reflectively in Essay 1
• Choose one or two of the personal events,
examples, or circumstances you're going to
talk about in your essay.
Writing Reflectively in Your Culture
and Identity Essay
• Write for the time I give you about how you
feel about these events, examples, or
circumstances. Has your attitude changed
over time? I'm not going to collect these, so
don't censor yourself. Please take this
seriously, though. You may find out that you
have something you can go through and edit
later. Write through your discomfort.