Editing Skills Lead to Better Grades

Oct 06, 2021 • Writing

Don’t lose marks for simple mistakes. Editing skills are key to helping students not only become better writers but stronger students in all subjects.

Whether for a math assignment or writing an essay, editing skills are an important part of learning. Editing skills can even boost learning confidence!

Writing and Editing

Reviewing and editing your work is a fantastic way to become a better writer. However, some people dread editing because it’s not as fun as writing itself. Because of that, students skip this step, which can hurt their grades!

Good writing skills are extremely beneficial, whether reviewing a math assignment, revising an essay, or even composing an email in their career later in life. Students must be aware of the importance of self-editing and how to do it properly!

Four Component of Editing Skills

Editing involves four major components: 

1. Reading the written piece 
2. Highlighting any mistakes 
3. Fixing the mistakes that were found in the work
4. Ensuring that the work is clear and easy to understand   

When students include all the components into the editing task, they’re decreasing their chances of losing marks for simple mistakes. 

Editing is more important than simply hoping for a better grade. By self-editing, your child catches silly errors before potential embarrassment from a peer or a teacher. It also keeps them accountable for their work and will lead to caring more about the finished product. All of which can help them become more confident in the classroom! 

How to Self-Edit Properly

By following the steps below, students will be able to catch any mistakes in their writing:

1. Read the writing aloud. Reading aloud adds an auditory element and slows the reader down. This strategy makes it easier to think about the content and observe its readability. 
2. Create an editing checklist. Set up a simple document that students can use when revising their work that covers common grade-level errors. 
3. Start with the basics. During the first round of edits, have your child focus on only finding missed/overused capitalization and punctuation. Once that’s complete, they can spend more time on structure and grammar. 
4. Ask for help! A second set of eyes can help see any missed mistakes. 
5. Set aside enough time to complete and edit the work. If your child procrastinates, they are more likely to skip the editing process. Giving themselves adequate time for the project will ensure they are able to review it before submission.

Develop Writing and Editing Skills at Oxford Learning

The ability to review one’s own work and make corrections as needed is an important skill. At Oxford Learning, all students learn self-editing skills that help them catch mistakes, communicate more clearly, and get better grades. Ask us about how our writing program can help your child succeed in this key area!