Course Recap for Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Tips for a Good Final Draft

1.  Make sure your central thesis is clear.  If either of your readers had a hard time distinguishing the the thesis or if the thesis they found is different from the one you intended, find ways to make it clearer.
2. The more specific you are in your narrative the better.  Even if your readers didn't point out areas where you could use more details or scenes you should expand, look for places yourself where you feel like you can add more.  Maybe there was a scene you wanted to expand but didn't have enough time to do it.  Add it now.
3.  Sometimes, however, less is more.  If there is any unnecessary information, cut it.  If your original draft was 5 pages, I'll be okay if it becomes a bit shorter if it is in the best interest of the story you're trying to tell.  Everything should tie back somehow to your central theme.
4.  Give your narrative a title.  And don't title it Personal Narrative.
5.  Actively work to make changes in your rough draft.  Do not just go and change a word here or there.  Revision means to take another look, to re-imagine, to look at it in a new light.  There is always some way we can make our work stronger, more interesting.  Take a chance.

Final Draft Due Friday, February 20, 2015 at midnight via Google Docs.