Is it Done Yet? Chapter 1

I think Gilmore presented a great introductory chapter in the way he views revision in the classroom. There were several simplistic concepts that stuck out to me, that I would like to implement into my own thinking and eventually my teaching. One idea that Gilmore presents that is a great reminder is the fact that “Ultimately revision is almost entirely up to the author” (2). Seems like common sense right? However, how often have we been placed into a position where we were graded on revisions, or were pushed do writing a specific way. I bet somewhere along the way we had classes where more revision could have been necessary, and much to our teachers disapproval we skated by instead. Revision is entirely up to our students, we can give them strategies, teach lessons, create rubrics of things to follow, but it is their ultimate responsibility. This idea goes hand in hand with another idea I liked by Gilmore’s which was that teaching revision is like practicing medicine: the ultimate goal is to render yourself unnecessary. As English teachers we are not there to write essays for our students, or have them shell out the same boring 5 paragraph essays day in and day out. However, we are there to mold young minds, create within them concepts and guidelines that can better the way in which they look at writing…as well as the results of those lessons. Essentially as been stated before probably in my blog I’m sure is the fact that students need teachers in order to learn and write better. Sure maybe someone is gifted, has a mind full of thoughts, a heart full of dreams, but they still need educators in their life to help them gain their full potential. Nothing that is written the first time is perfect, I liked the example they used with Shakespeare and even the text- about how many revisions were necessary to create a piece of work. If we plan on making an impact on the way in which this world writes, we need to work on writing, and despite the negative wrap revision is a monumental part of that process.