Editing your paper with

Ratiocination
Ratiocination: Step 1

Circle every be verb you can find in your

paper. *Do not count the be verbs in
quotes.
What are be verbs? be, being, been, am, are,
was, were, is
When you are finished, count the number
of be verbs and write the number at the
top of your paper.
Step 1

Cut this number in half by:

Changing to livelier verbs
Combining sentences
re-arranging sentences
Ratiocination: Step 2
Using just one color, draw a box around the
first word of every sentence in your paper.
(Hint: perform this activity one paragraph at a
time).
In the margin, make a list of your first words.
Are there any patterns? Are there several that
start with the same word?
Change patterns and words so they are not
the same
Step 2

Vary Sentence beginnings by:

Change nouns to pronouns/vice versa
Combine sentences
Rearrange sentences
Ratiocination: Step 3

Highlight every other sentence in your paper.

Evaluate your sentence lengths:
Short = one line or less
Medium= <1 >2 lines
Long = <2 typed lines
Make changes when you revise so the pattern of
sentence length varies.
Ratiocination: Step 4

Find any dead words in your writing and

cross them out.
What words are dead? Very, really, got, get,
stuff, a lot, contractions, many, just, second
person, good, bad, says (upgrade diction)
Ratiocination: Step 5

Put a triangle around all pronouns (he,

she, it, they, their) Hint: perform this one
paragraph at a time.
What do the pronouns refer to in your
sentence? Is it clear to the reader?
 What now?

After completing steps 1-5 you can update

the electronic copy of your essay to reflect
changes.

Review Word count

 Homework

No ENGL classes next week; attend

conference with updated clean copy of
essay 1.
SAR 2 due 2/23 at 11:59 pm
Read Lunsford Ch. 14 (Study Guide will
be posted soon)
Essay 1 Due to Blackboard by 11:59 pm
on 3/2 (We will be moving on by then)