Year 5 English: Evaluating, editing and handwriting
Part of the Year 5 English writing non-fiction, cohesion and layout chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Evaluating, editing and handwriting
Practise on paper
Handwriting cannot be marked on a screen. Practise a line of joined letters on paper, with a grown-up, using a pencil and lined paper.
Keep the letters the same size and the joins smooth. Write at a steady pace, and check the line before you go on.
Key ideas
- Evaluate: read your writing for purpose, audience, register, cohesion and clarity.
- Edit: improve the words, the order and the punctuation, and then proof-read.
- Handwriting: joined, legible and even, written at a steady speed.
- Ask a grown-up to check your handwriting and tell you one thing to improve.
Method. Think about the reader.
- Look at the reader. The reader may be formal or informal.formal or informal
- Check the greeting. The greeting and sign-off must match.match
- Write the answer. that the greeting and sign-off suit the reader
Check. The greeting and sign-off suit the reader. ✓
Method. Think about writing at speed.
- Think. Joined letters flow and need fewer pen lifts.flow
- Explain. Joined writing is quicker and easier to read.quicker
- Write the answer. it is faster and easier to read
Check. It is faster and easier to read. ✓
Method. Think about how the reader moves from one idea to the next.
- Think. A link helps the reader follow.follow
- Choose. Adding a linking word improves cohesion.linking word
- Write the answer. adding a linking word
Check. Adding a linking word. ✓
Exercise 12F Practice: evaluating and editing
Method. Look at the greeting and the words.
- Look. Dear Mrs Patel and full sentences are formal.formal
- Name. Formal.formal
- Write the answer. formal
Check. Formal. ✓
Method. Look for politeness.
- Find the word. Thank you shows politeness.polite
- Write it. Thank.Thank
- Write the answer. Thank
Check. Thank. ✓
Method. Choose a linking word.
- Choose a link. Afterwards or however.Afterwards
- Write it. Afterwards, the class...Afterwards
- Write the answer. Accept any link, such as an adverbial at the start of the second paragraph
Check. A link is used. ✓
Method. Think about the register.
- Check. Formal letters use a formal sign-off.formal
- Choose. Yours sincerely.Yours sincerely
- Write the answer. Yours sincerely
Check. Yours sincerely. ✓
Method. Look for the clearer meaning.
- Compare. The second shows who has the stick.who had a stick
- Choose. The second.who had a stick
- Write the answer. The old man, who had a stick, saw the dog
Check. The second sentence. ✓
Method. Count the items.
- Count. Pens, paper and a ruler are three items.three items
- Write. 3.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. 3. ✓
Method. Think about legibility.
- Think. Legible handwriting matters for the reader.legible
- Choose. Joined and even letters.joined and even
- Write the answer. joined and even
Check. Joined and even. ✓
Method. Read the letter as the reader would.
- Read as the reader. Would the reader understand the request?understand
- Write the evaluation. Yes, the request is clear.clear
- Write the answer. Accept any honest evaluation, such as Yes, it is clear because each paragraph has one purpose
Check. An evaluation is given. ✓
Method. Remove the repeated words and add a precise word.
- Remove repetition. Good is repeated.good
- Improve it. Clear and interesting is more precise.clear and interesting
- Write the answer. The report was clear and interesting, so we enjoyed reading it.
Check. The edit is clearer. ✓
Method. Think about the checks a grown-up can make.
- Grown-up. They check the letters and joins.letters and joins
- Practise. Practise the joins on lined paper.joins
- Write the answer. a grown-up can check the joins and sizes, and I would practise the joins between the letters on lined paper
Check. The help and the practice are named. ✓