My Writing Process [4]

As it becomes time to revise my biography to complete my genre assignment, I still dread the difficult, but necessary, task of adjusting my paper to APA format.  Having used MLA format for most of my academic career using APA format can sometimes be difficult, although I think it is just something that will  practice I will get used to.  I do understand the importance of writing and citing papers in the  proper format, it's just a tedious process that I have yet to master.  

While revising my paper I will also re-read it and check for spelling and grammar mistakes, because there are always several of them in my first drafts.  I have also recently started using the feature on Microsoft Word that will read my paper to me which I find is  very helpful in catching mistakes.  I find that when I reread my own papers I miss a lot of the mistakes because I just read it in my head as I intended to write it, not as what is actually written.  When my paper is read to me it is easier to hear the things that don't sound right.  Using this tool has definitely helped me edit my papers more effectively and has made revision more of an enjoyable part of my writing process, as opposed to just another tedious task that I did not really look forward to.  

I think teaching students the importance of revising and properly citing papers is important because although these tasks may seem tedious initially, when done effectively they can be manageable and enjoyable.  I also think that by teaching students different tools to use when revising, students with many different methods of learning can be successful.