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A Note about Revision
Revision is a
part of everyday life as people grow up, grow older, change and
watch the world change around them. Fashion, hair styles, interests,
and opinions are seldom static. Yes, some of the things, ideas,
and relationships we have are long lasting and don't change in the
sense of becoming less important to us; however, over time even
our old favorites come to have new meaning or nuances. We begin
to notice details in new ways, or our experience of those things
in our life takes on new depth, texture or richness. Even in the
midst of continuity, change and growth takes place. That is why
life is always an adventure.
People move, change
majors or careers, replace their cars, immerse themselves in new
interests, meet new friends, and watch as even their surrounding
town or city gets built up over the years. Generational eras can
be differentiated by their peculiar visions of popular music, art,
and entertainment, attesting to how even a few short years demonstrates
a state of near-constant flux in society, gradually morphing from
one set of trends into another (Can you identify something that
is definitely from the 80's? What if our culture had stayed that
way! Sure, there might not have been anything *wrong* with the 80's,
per se...). It is debatable whether or not these changes make people
'better' in the sense of leading more complete or fulfilled lives,
but change does alter how people experience life and how they are
understood (or not) and perceive the world around them.
In the same way,
the changes writers make to their drafts may not always make the
paper better (sometimes they might actually make it worse or merely
different), but they will make differences (sometimes radical, sometimes
subtle) in how that text is experienced and responded to by readers.
Remember, then, to keep your focus on the experience you are creating
for your readers through the text, rather than viewing the text
as 'merely' words on a page. Words are never 'mere'; They actively
create a vision of reality for readers to 'step into' and thoughtfully
experience.
In this class,
revision and change are especially important because it gives you
a chance to learn about what your different options are as a writer.
It is a way of challenging yourself and developing the ability to
knowledgeably and wisely choose among various creative possibilities.
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