Teaching Self-Editing to Students
“To write is human; to edit is divine.” —Stephen King1
That’s right. One of the most popular authors of all time said that (in his book on writing). Teaching writing can seem hard enough, so how can educators teach budding writers how to edit? Specifically, how can students be taught to self-edit, preparing their work for an outside look before sending it off for revision or publication?
These questions are made more complicated by the fact that each author is different and will find differing practices that work best for them. However, there are a few general exercises that can help provide a foundation for students to build on. Even if they discontinue these exercises later, students can still learn skills by practicing editing through the following activities.
Exercise 1: Outline
It may seem odd to include outlining in an editing discourse. The fact is, outlining or diagramming a writing piece before beginning in earnest saves time revising later. Teaching basic research paper structure and plot structure helps students not only plan what they want to say but also how to say it, in what order, and with what purpose. For students who find outlining difficult, suggest outlining the intended flow of emotion or persuasion that a reader should feel. Then break the intended responses down into basic plot or argumentative principles.
Exercise 2: Take a Break!
Two exercises in, and no post-draft editing has been mentioned here. Patience can go a long way in editing, and teaching writers to give themselves time and space before re–reading their work can help their eyes be as fresh as possible when reviewing their work. Taking a break can also promote confidence, which is crucial for good writing. Encourage students to congratulate themselves on their completed work, focus on another task, and return to their work with a more critical eye to make it the best it can be.
Exercise 3: Read Aloud
Reading your own work aloud can be daunting, especially as the work’s complexity and length increase. As a writer takes the time to slow down and read their work aloud, they are forced to look at each word, not skim the surface of the piece.2 This can help catch typos, grammatical errors, and discontinuities. Reading aloud after reviewing the previously written outline can also help students see where they have changed course and review said course change.
Exercise 4: Use an Editing Checklist
Creating an editing checklist can provide students with small steps toward improvement. When designing an editing checklist, focus on the overall thesis or plot structure first, then focus on supporting details and minutiae. Make sure context is given to quotes and sources, and that the piece’s premise is supported in a logical way. Then move on to grammar and flow, making sure the t’s are crossed and i’s dotted. If you need inspiration, MyEducator will post an editing checklist on this blog as well!
Exercise 5: Review Others’ Feedback
Teaching students how to revise based on feedback—correcting errors, fixing logic, and making the writing more understandable—can serve two purposes. One, it allows students to control their work as it is refined. Second, it models editing for the students. Ask students to reflect on what their editors did and to apply those practices to their next session of self-editing. If the student is expected to turn in multiple drafts before their final deliverable, then this becomes even more important, helping them with their related writing in the future. If writers are wondering where to find feedback, start with feedback from peers and general feedback from editors or graders.
In Conclusion
Giving students the tools to edit their own work can make all the difference in teaching them to edit. Help them see that granular exercises and practices can construct an editing toolbox worthy of their writing.
At MyEducator, our teams work to make sure materials are student-ready at all times, and we are more than happy to help in any way we can. Feel free to reach out, and best of luck teaching the next generation of editors.
- King, S. (2000). On writing: A Memoir of the craft. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ↩︎
- https://www.unh.edu/student-success/sites/default/files/media/2022-07/resource-guide-to-self-editing-writing.pdf; https://ww1.up.edu/learningcommons/tutoring-services/writing-center/self-editing-guide.html
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