Download revising and editing checklists together

REVISING AND EDITING CHECKLISTS
FOR EXPOSITORY WRITING (WRITING TO EXPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING)
Good writers read and check their work as they write (but make sure you get your ideas onto the
paper first so you don’t forget them). Revising, then editing your writing will make it even better!
Good 4th grade-level expository writing should have all of the features found in these checklists:
First, revise your writing…
REVISING CHECKLIST (Read your work!)
2. Your three main ideas, reasons, or steps
are separate paragraphs. They are in
order, explained clearly and backed up with
separate details, examples or anecdotes
(quick memories/stories related to the idea).
3. You chose specific nouns, strong verbs &
descriptive adjectives to “show, not tell,” and
used clear transitions (first, also, then, next,
finally...) to separate your ideas.
EXPOSITORY REVISING
1. Your introduction paragraph grabs our
attention...maybe starts with an interesting
fact, question or memory about your topic.
You eventually tell us your topic before
quickly (at the end of the paragraph)
introducing the main ideas that the next three
paragraphs will cover.
4. There is a good variety of sentence sizes
and the sentences don’t all begin with the
same words (Well...Well...I...I...). Look at
the first word of each sentence to check.
5. Your conclusion paragraph mentions your
topic again, but in a different way than your
introduction did. Share a final feeling or
thought, encourage us to take action, or
recommend something to us.
You might also let us know your hopes
or wishes related to your topic, share a lesson
learned or something to remember, or you
might leave us with some advice or questions
to think about.
Your conclusion should not have a
“That’s why / That’s how…” ending!
Then, edit your writing…
EDITING CHECKLIST (Do one at a time!)
draft? Be sure to indent all paragraph beginnings
in the final draft.
2. Sentences are complete and make sense
(sound finished) when read aloud.
“Would the sentence sound complete if
you heard it on the street?”
Don’t start a sentence with Like, And, Or,
Because (or even worse, “Cause”).
3. Every sentence and name begins with a
capital letter. Don’t put capitals on words
that don’t need them!
EXPOSITORY EDITING
1. You indented (pushed in) the first line of
every new paragraph. Start a new paragraph
for the introduction, each of the main ideas,
and the conclusion. Missed some in your rough
4. All sentences end with correct punctuation
(period, question mark or exclamation point).
Quotation marks surround just the words
someone says to another character in your
writing. Otherwise, don’t use them.
5. There aren’t any run-on sentences (and,
and, and).
6. Easy words are spelled correctly. You
used interesting words, even if you don’t
know how to spell them. Circle words you
don’t know how to spell. Then check spelling
in a dictionary, Quick Word, or ask someone.
7. Read your paper one more time. Are you
missing any words? Make sure your work is
neatly written and easy to read.