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Creative Nonfiction
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Revising the Draft of a Short Piece

Grade 12-Creative Nonfiction

Competency: Revise the draft of a short piece using any of the literary conventions of a genre (e.g.,
plot for a narrative) HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ib-d-7
Prepared by: Mr. Edmar B. Barrido
For clarifications, please send me a message to the following: Cellphone no.: 09309867502 -
Facebook/Messenger: Barrido Mar

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Presenting a Commentary/Critique

BEGIN

BEGIN

We are already more than

halfway through our entire learning
experience. We are almost getting to
the finish line. For sure, it has been an
interesting exploration you have gone
through in the main thoroughfares of
the creative nonfiction. You have
crossed and grasped the boundaries
between literary arts and nonfiction
which make it even more interesting
for you to take on another equally
challenging yet interesting writing
task.

Hopefully, this will even help

you discover more about creative
nonfiction and its types. It is high time
to be even more critical of what was
written and what you read. It is time to
write a commentary/critique.

Let your imagination be your wings

and plunge yourself in the realm of
creative nonfiction!

TARGETS

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

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1. Present a commentary/critique on a chosen creative nonfictional text
representing a particular type or form using a teacher-made nonfiction
commentary model. (HUMSS_CNF11/12-IIb-c-17)

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 TRY THIS

Activity 1
MAKE THIS A HIT
Directions: Improve the following narrative leads to make them more appealing and
creative. Write your answers in ½ sheet of paper. Number one is done
for you as an example.
DRAFT REVISED
The Novel Corona Virus 2019 or (COVID19) poses a threat
1. The Novel Corona Virus
to mankind; It can trigger various respiratory tract infections
is dangerous to people’s
health. RECALL which can prove fatal and contagious if not treated
immediately.

2. People wear face masks

In your previous lesson you have learned about
for protection. evaluating one’s draft of a short piece following
some guidelines. Let us now review what you
have
3. Maintain distance learned in your previous lesson.
from
one another.
Activity 2
IDENTIFY ME!

Directions: Recall the important words in the checklist for evaluating your first draft.
Read the statement and supply the correct answer. Write your answer in
a ¼ sheet of paper.
1. elements deal with the overall effect of your essay
and should guide you throughout your writing.
2. What part of evaluating answers the question “Have I avoided short,
choppy sentences?”

3. checked correct use and consistency of verb tenses.

DO THIS

ACTIVITY 3
LET US GET POSTED
Directions: Read the Facebook post and answer the SWBST Chart to elaborate
further the gist of the post. Do this on a long bond paper.

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Somebody Wanted But So Then
Who is the What does the (because) How does the What is the
main character main character main character resolution?
or narrator? /narrator want What is the /narrator solve
or want to do? problem or the problem?
conflict?

EXPLORE

Amazing! You did a wonderful

job in providing possible answers on
the given activities.
This is the time that you share
how you feel about the previous
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 activities.

KEEP THIS IN MIND

Well done! You certainly have shared a lot.

Now, you are all set for the discussion in
revising a draft. But before you start studying
how to revise a draft check the difference
between revising and editing.

REVISE VS EDIT

A. R. M. S. C. U. P. S.

CAPITALIZE – names, places, titles,

ADD – sentences and words
months, etc.

REMOVE – words and sentences USAGE – nouns and verbs are

you do not need correctly used

PUNCTUATION – periods, quotes,

MOVE – change a word or
commas, semicolons, apostrophes,
placement of a sentence
etc.

SUBSTITUTE – trade words or SPELLING – check all words, look for

sentences for new ones homophones, use a dictionary

Source: library.defiance.edu

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WHAT IS REVISION?
Revision is a part of the writing process. You revise your work after you have
selected an idea to write about, completed necessary research, organized your
information, decided on what to write about, and then written a first draft. The
purpose of the first draft is to write something complete—but to get your ideas on
paper. Whether you write poetry, fiction personal essays, you should revise your
work.

WHY REVISE1?

 Revision allows the writer to improve. Revisiting the first draft enables the
writer to see the nuances in structure, plot, characterization, point of view,
conflict, climax, resolution and theme.

 Revision enables the writer to correct mistakes and oversights, to add, to

delete, to improve and to polish a first attempt. Revising your work gives you
the chance to improve your draft to your best work.

Author Susan Bell, in” The Artful Edit,” suggests you distance yourself before
revising. Here are a few recommendations she provides in her book:

 Don’t reread as you write. It slows down the writing process and creative thinking.
 Don’t revise as you write your first draft. It slows down the writing process and
creative thinking.
 Write your complete first draft of a poem, chapter, section. And then take a
break. The break of time allows you to approach your work from a new
perspective. How long should you take? It all depends–at least one night. But
many writers take a few days off, even a week, or longer, before starting the
revision process.
 After the break, reread your work aloud to hear how it sounds.
 Once you have taken a break and reread your work, begin revising your work.

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“Revising Drafts” Writingcenter.edu. Accessed August 4, 2020
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/

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CHECKLIST FOR GLOBAL REVISION2

Purpose and Audience

 Does the draft address a question, a problem, or an issue that readers
care about?
 Is the draft appropriate for its audience? Does it account for the
audience’s knowledge of and possible attitudes toward the subject?

Focus
 Is the thesis clear? Is it prominently placed?
 Are any ideas obviously off the point?

Organization and Paragraphing

 Are there enough organizational cues for readers (such as topic sentences)?
 Are ideas presented in a logical order?
 Are any paragraphs too long or too short for easy reading?

Content
 Is the supporting material relevant and persuasive?
 Which ideas need further development?
 Are the parts proportioned sensibly? Do major ideas receive enough attention?
 Where might material be deleted?

Point of view
 Is the dominant point of view – first person (I or we), second person (you), or
third person (he, she, it, one, or they) – appropriate for your purpose and
audience?

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Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference. 7th ed. Boston: Beford/St. Martin's, 2011.

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Tips
How do you get the best out of your revisions? Here are some strategies that writers
have developed to look at their first drafts from a fresh perspective.
 Take a break. You are proud of what you wrote, but you might be too close to
it to make changes. Set aside your writing for a few hours or even a day until
you can look at it objectively.
 Ask someone you trust for feedback and constructive criticism.
 Pretend you are one of your readers. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied? Why?
 Use the resources that your college provides. Find out where your school’s
writing lab is located and ask about the assistance they provide online and in
person.

SUM UP

To sum up the lesson, REVISING means revisiting the first draft

enables the writer to see the nuances in structure, plot, characterization, point
of view, conflict, climax, resolution and theme.

In revising always remember A.R.M.S. which stands for:

ADD – sentences and words
REMOVE – words and sentences you do not need
MOVE – change a word or placement of a sentence
SUBSTITUTE – trade words or sentences for new
ones

Moreover, during revision you should remember, Purpose and

Audience, Focus, Organization and Paragraphing, Content, and Point of
view.

Lastly, if you want to make your work even better consider all the tips
such as: take a break, ask for constructive criticism, pretend you are one of the
readers, and use resources.

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Activity 4
LET US WRITE TO REWRITE!
Directions: Using the story outline, revise and enhance your draft from activity 3
with details applying the different conventions of a story in your
narrative draft. Write your answers on a long bond paper.
Title Facebook post: Papa’s Birthday

During the Enhanced Community

Setting (When, Where) Quarantine, the family stayed at home.

-Father (Birthday celebrator)

Characters -Mama (Positive and enduring)
-Child narrator (hopeful despite the
situation)

Plot (What Happened)/ Narrative Arc The town was placed under ECQ
Exposition because of a pandemic crisis, both
parents stopped working.

Rising Action His Father’s birthday came, and no feast

(Incidents) to celebrate
Complication A sad day for the family
(Conflict/Problem)
Falling Action Late that night, the local official handed
relief goods for the family. They slept.

Resolution Mother assured that she cooks food the

next day, the best meal they’ll have in a
while

Reminder:
In revising use A.R.M.S. which stands for:
ADD – sentences and words,

REMOVE – words and sentences you do not need,

MOVE – change a word or placement of a sentence

SUBSTITUTE – trade words or sentences for new ones

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ACTIVITY 5
FINAL CHECKPOINT
Direction: Read each item carefully and write your answer on ¼ sheet of paper.

1. The following are reasons of revising a paper, which one is NOT?

A. There are issues of capitalization and spelling
B. The writer sees the nuances in structure, plot, characterization,
point of view, conflict, climax, resolution and theme
C. The writer has read the draft and noticed grammatical errors
D. The writer has reread the draft twice.

2. It is a line by line editing of grammar, spelling, punctuation and such

A. Editing and Proofreading
B. Macro-editing
C. Micro-editing
D. Revising

3. John edited his piece, particularly on the organization of ideas in the plot. This
type of editing is called?
A. Editing and Proofreading
B. Macro-editing
C. Micro-editing
D. Revising

4. The following are notes on how to start macro-editing a draft which one is NOT?
A. Revise for dialogue. The dialogue reveals a character.
B. Revise for style. The writer uses a consistent voice, tone, and diction.
C. Revise to improve the structure. The piece of text has a
coherent beginning, middle, and ending.
D. Revise for grammar. The writer uses correct subject verb agreements
and verb tenses.

5. Anna wrote a draft of a story about the struggle of frontliner’s in this pandemic.
She had a hard time finalizing her first draft. What should Anna most
preferably undertake?
A. Anna should revise the entire draft and make another one.
B. Anna should take a break, reread the draft after and begin revising.
C. Anna should post her work online to receive criticisms.
D. Anna should reread her work aloud and find the errors while reading.

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