EnglishReading to writing: stories that change minds30 min★★★ difficulty

Edit like a reader, proof-read like a detective

Finishing a draft is the midpoint. Editing improves meaning and structure; proof-reading catches the small errors that could obscure them.

Part of your national curriculum

Writing: Amend the vocabulary, grammar and structure of their writing to improve its coherence and overall effectiveness
Writing: Plan, draft, edit and proof-read, considering how their writing reflects the audiences and purposes for which it was intended
Writing: Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Amend the vocabulary, grammar and structure of their writing to improve its coherence and overall effectiveness

Key learning points

• Edit the whole argument first
• Strengthen cohesion
• Make vocabulary earn its place
• Proof-read in separate passes

This lesson at a glance

30 minutes
19 parts to scroll through
3 quick checks
Marked quiz at the end
Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

vocabularygrammarstructurewritingimprove

Scroll down — the lesson carries on below

Part 1 of 19 · Discover5%

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Part 1 of 19

Edit like a reader, proof-read like a detective illustration

Visual introduction

Picture this

Edit like a reader, proof-read like a detective

Finishing a draft is the midpoint. Editing improves meaning and structure; proof-reading catches the small errors that could obscure them.

In a nutshell

Amend the vocabulary, grammar and structure of their writing to improve its coherence and overall effectiveness

Learning cycle

Part 2 of 19

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Part 1 · Edit the whole argument first

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 3 of 19

Learn

Edit the whole argument first

Read only the first sentence of each paragraph. Together, do they form a logical route from issue to evidence, counterargument and judgement? Move, merge or cut paragraphs before polishing individual words.

Reset break

Part 4 of 19

Pause

That's sitting 1 of 5 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now

Explore the idea

Part 5 of 19

Learn

Strengthen cohesion

Pronouns, repeated key terms and connectives help ideas travel between sentences. Replace a vague link such as ‘Also’ with the relationship you mean: ‘By contrast’, ‘As a result’ or ‘Despite this’. Check that every ‘this’ has a clear noun to refer to.

Quick check

Part 6 of 19

Quick check

What should you edit before individual word choices?

Give me a hint

Quick check

Part 7 of 19

Quick check

Which connective signals contrast precisely?

Give me a hint

Reset break

Part 8 of 19

Pause

That's sitting 2 of 5 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now

Learning cycle

Part 9 of 19

Learning cycle 2 of 2

Part 2 · Make vocabulary earn its place

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 10 of 19

Learn

Make vocabulary earn its place

Replace vague wording with precise verbs and nouns, but do not inflate the style. ‘Limits disturbance’ is clearer than ‘facilitates the minimisation of negative experiential outcomes’. Effective writing sounds controlled, not decorated.

Explore the idea

Part 11 of 19

Learn

Proof-read in separate passes

Check one feature at a time: sentence boundaries, commas and apostrophes; then spelling; then missing or repeated words. Reading aloud catches broken rhythm, while reading from the final sentence backwards stops your brain guessing what should be there.

Reset break

Part 12 of 19

Pause

That's sitting 3 of 5 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now

Quick check

Part 13 of 19

Quick check

Why proof-read in separate passes?

Give me a hint

Challenge round

Part 14 of 19

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

Challenge round

Part 15 of 19

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

Effective ____ sounds controlled, not decorated.

Reset break

Part 16 of 19

Pause

That's sitting 4 of 5 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now

Challenge round

Part 17 of 19

Game · Recall cards

The strongest structure for a paragraph is…

Card 1 of 4

Mastery quiz

Part 18 of 19

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Edit like a reader, proof-read like a detective

4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

1. The strongest structure for a paragraph is…
2. Naming a counter-argument makes writing…
3. Which is evidence rather than assertion?
4. What should you edit before individual word choices?

Lesson round-up

Part 19 of 19

Lesson round-up

Ready when you are

Quiz score

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Part 1 of 19 · Watch & discover

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How this is going

Not looked at yet
Amend the vocabulary, grammar and structure of their writing to improve its coherence and overall effectiveness
Not looked at yet
Plan, draft, edit and proof-read, considering how their writing reflects the audiences and purposes for which it was intended
Not looked at yet
Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation