Editing for Effect · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Redrafting so writing lands

English · Writing Composition · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What counts as a structural change?

    • Fixing one capital letter
    • Changing the font and spacing
    • Moving or deleting a paragraph

  2. What is the first editing move?

    • Read the draft aloud and mark stumbles
    • Fix commas before anything else
    • Rewrite from a blank page

  3. Editing for effect asks whether the piece lands as intended.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Only I ate the cookie versus I ate only the cookie. What does this show?

    • One small move can remake the meaning
    • Spelling matters most in edits
    • Long sentences always win

  5. A story starts in past tense, then slips into present. What is wrong?

    • Nothing, since tense never matters
    • The drift jars the reader and breaks the spell
    • The story is too short

  6. A redraft that only fixes typos has done the full job.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Two edits: one moves only, one adds ten adjectives. Which edits for effect?

    • The adjectives, since more is better
    • The moved word, since placement remakes meaning
    • Neither, since edits harm voice

  8. A redraft polishes words but keeps a stalling paragraph. What is missing?

    • A new title for the piece
    • More adjectives in each sentence
    • A structural cut judged by intended effect
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Redrafting so writing lands W1-mt_1YPl7I-wrO-s1

  1. Moving or deleting a paragraph · Structure is shape, not spelling. Move or cut a whole block.
  2. Read the draft aloud and mark stumbles · The ear finds trouble first. Mark every place you trip up.
  3. True · Corrections are the start. The landing is the true test.
  4. One small move can remake the meaning · Placing one word differently remakes the claim. Edits this small count.
  5. The drift jars the reader and breaks the spell · Verbs must tell from one point in time. Pick one tense and hold it.
  6. False · Typos are the start. Change how the piece reads, not just its spelling.
  7. The moved word, since placement remakes meaning · Effect lives in placement. Piled adjectives only decorate.
  8. A structural cut judged by intended effect · Word polish cannot save shape. Move or delete the stalling block.
Worksheet · LightMySky