SQR 3

Mario A. Garcia
Eng. 1301
Trang Phan
9/7/2010
SQR 3: Revision Strategies of Student Writers and Experienced Adult Writers
SUMMARY: This article focuses on how revising your work can greatly improve the point you are trying to get across. Gordon Rohman believed in the process of prewriting to writing to rewriting. In these three levels you could make all the changes you thought were necessary. James Britton had a model that had a series of stages described in metaphors of linear growth. They are conception, incubation, and then production. Rohman’s theory is one where a writer puts his own experiences down from words in his own mind. Britton on the other hand is more linear following a “first, then, finally” approach which does not let revision come into account. When revision is not used, teacher’s can tell who the experienced writer is because of the experiences they have had with papers written by both experienced and inexperienced people. A linear model is offer to students to be the guideline for their writing because according to Roland Barthes “there is a fundamental tie between teaching and speech.” Students rarely use revision because they hear the word mostly from the teacher that does it for them. For an experienced writer revision strategies are very important. When revising, an experienced writer uses this to find the shape and form of the argument. After the form is found they concern themselves for their readership in order to have abstracted the standards of the reader. These revision strategies are used to find meaning in the work that is being done.
QUESTION: Whose theory do you prefer? Rohman’s or Britton’s? Explain.
RESPONSE: When I write a paper my mind goes into thought like Gordon Rohman. I start by brainstorming a technique that I was taught in middle school. From there I gather all the ideas I threw out and write the best essay I think that I can. I reread my essay and then I figure out what I need to explain more, what I put too much detail in, and what I can do to make it more understandable for those who are going to be reading my work. Rohman's idea of prewriting to writing and then rewriting has always been my method, even when I didn’t know I was following it. It just seems easier to follow his theory because it lets you put in your own experiences with your writing which really helps the reader depict the message that you are trying to convey. With Britton this is not possible because his theory is really straight forward. In his theory there is a “first, then, and finally” with no revision what so ever. Revision is one of the most important things a writer can do because it is what separates an experienced writer from an inexperienced one. How can someone tell? A teacher has had much work reading papers and they can easily notice who the better writer from two papers is. In all seriousness I would recommend that everyone use Rohman’s theory for writing a paper unless you have to get something done quickly then it would be safe to use Britton’s theory as long as you are sure that you will not make any mistakes. But if you want to deliver a paper that you want to get the best grade that you possibly can, Rhoman’s theory is definitely the way to go. With his theory you have the opportunity to make as many changes as you need to, to keep improving your paper so that you can have a better paper than others.