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

Fix the shape before the sentences

English · Writing Composition · ages 17-18
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. After moving a section, how do you check the join?

    • Count the words on each side
    • Trust the move and read no further
    • Read the join aloud, adding a bridge sentence if it jars

  2. What starts a structural revision?

    • A one paragraph summary of what the draft actually says
    • A spell check from the first line
    • A new font for fresh eyes

  3. Line editing should wait until the structural pass is done.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. You must swap two sections. What is the cheapest way?

    • Shift two lines on your outline, then move the text
    • Rewrite both sections fresh from memory
    • Delete one section and hope no one misses it

  5. Your summary defends one claim, but a section attacks it. What do you do?

    • Polish its sentences until it sounds softer
    • Cut, merge, or move it somewhere it fits
    • Stretch the summary to cover both claims

  6. If a section fights your summary, leave it and hope readers adjust.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. After cutting a section, the paragraphs on each side jump topics. What repairs it?

    • A longer title for the next part
    • Deleting the next paragraph as well
    • A bridge sentence joining the two sides smoothly

  8. A writer fixes commas for a week, then moves whole sections and redoes it all. What went wrong?

    • They read the draft too many times
    • They polished sentences before the structure settled
    • They wrote their summary far too early
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Answer key

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

Fix the shape before the sentences W1-mt_RiDXGhZWak-s1

  1. Read the join aloud, adding a bridge sentence if it jars · Reading aloud exposes abrupt jumps, and a bridge sentence mends them.
  2. A one paragraph summary of what the draft actually says · Summarize first, then check each section against that summary.
  3. True · Polishing wastes effort on text you may still cut.
  4. Shift two lines on your outline, then move the text · Moving outline lines beats rewriting pages.
  5. Cut, merge, or move it somewhere it fits · A section that fights the summary must move, shrink, or go.
  6. False · Never leave a section that fights the summary. Cut, merge, or move it.
  7. A bridge sentence joining the two sides smoothly · Repairs mean reading the join and bridging it, not more cuts.
  8. They polished sentences before the structure settled · Sentence work before structure means redoing it all after each move.
Worksheet · LightMySky