By: Eva Eyde
In the essay “Revision Is Central to Developing Writing” written by Doug Downs, he expresses that in order to create the best possible writing, feedback and reflections are necessary. He explains that unrevised writing will rarely provide the purpose of the essay without revision. Also, that writers who do not revise will receive fewer positive responses than those who use revision and feedback from others. The more one revises their work, the better their work will become. Revising one’s work helps them practice to become a better writer. It also helps them think of more ideas to add to their work to make a stronger writing.
Writing something usually gives the writer new, more, or different ideas that they did not have before. The author compares this to driving with headlights because headlights only reach part of the distance ahead such as the first draft only being partly done. Then, once they drive further, they see things they did not see before. Therefore, once they begin revising their first draft, they start to realize there are new ideas to add or change. The revision process is like a long road. The further down the road they get, the more their writing will relate to the purpose of their essay.
Downs states that students may see revising as a punishment for a poor written piece of writing. When they are told to write more or redo their writing, it does not seem like a positive opportunity to them. If the students believe the writing they are told to perform has little value, it makes the revision process harder for them to understand the purpose for. Sometimes teachers make it worse for them when they make revision optional or only for the students who had a weak writing. Downs explains that teachers, writers, or educational policymakers must understand that revision is an action of skilled, mature, professional writing and craft.
“Shitty First Drafts” and “Revision Is Central to Developing Writing” are similar because they both convey the message that first drafts are not good and need revision. “Shitty First Drafts” involves the author explaining her personal experience with revisions. “Revision Is Central to Developing Writing” explains to the audience the concept of revision without involving personal experiences. Downs says, “In the same way that writing is not perfectible, writing also is not in the category of things that are often right the first time” (Downs). It takes many revisions to make a writing strong and purposeful. Even a professional writer has to revise many times and use feedback from others to make their writing better. These essay helps me to understand that revision is a positive, not a negative. They help me realize that revision is useful and is needed in order to become a more successful writer.
