Make Copy Shine By Editing 2023

ACTIVITY

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ELIMINATING OPINIONS Look for opinion adjectives in previous yearbooks and list them below. Consider these:

.......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... Beautiful Gracefully Intelligently

Outstanding Skillfully Spectacular .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..........................

.......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... Terrific Unprecedented Wonderful

Look for opinion statements: Is there another side to the story? Could someone have a different take on the issue? If so, there may be editorializing.

EDIT OUT THE EDITORIALIZING - SHOW, DON'T TELL: Editorializing can generally be fixed by changing the statement from a “telling” sentence to a “showing” sentence. If the detail is shown through accurate description, the reader will get the message without being told an opinion statement. Example: Telling statement: Regina Phillips was nervous to receive her final exam results. In the sentence above, the writer is telling the audience that Regina was nervous. But how can the writer show this emotion instead? Was she sweating or swearing? Was her forehead furrowed? Fingers crossed? Holding her breath? How was she sitting? What was she saying? All of these details will help the writer show the emotion.

Showing statement: Beads of sweat appeared on Regina Phillips’ forehead as her shaking hand scrolled down the online gradebook to reveal her final exam score.

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