CBSE Class 8 English The Writing Process Revising Worksheet

After you complete a first draft, you will want to revise, or improve your writing. Begin by looking at each individual paragraph. The topic sentence should clearly state what the paragraph is about. Each of the other sentences should support the topic sentence and work together to develop the topic in a clear, interesting way.

If you find a sentence in your paragraph that does not support the topic, either move it to a paragraph where it would make sense or do not use it at all. If your sentences fit the topic but do not flow together smoothly, try adding a transition word such as first, next, or finally.

Greta had a busy day. She played tennis all morning. She had lunch with Aunt Susan. She visited the aquarium in the afternoon, and she called me tonight. Greta had a busy day. First, she played tennis all morning. Next, she had lunch with Aunt Susan. She visited the aquarium in the afternoon, and, finally, she called me tonight.

Exercise 1 Revise the following paragraph.

The Venus flytrap is a plant that can be grown indoors. The Venus flytrap is a plant that can move fast to catch insects. If you want help catching insects in your home, you might want to get a Venus flytrap. I have a cactus. The tip of each leaf of the Venus flytrap has two pads that hinge at the base. Each pad has sensitive hairs on its surface. When an insect lands on a pad, these hairs move slightly, causing the pads to snap shut. The long “teeth” at the edges of the pad interlock to keep the insect from escaping.

If you want help catching insects in your home, you might want to get a Venus flytrap. The Venus flytrap is a plant that can move fast to catch insects. It is also a plant that can be grown indoors. The tip of each leaf has two pads that hinge at the base. Each pad has sensitive hairs on its surface. When an insect lands on a pad, these hairs move slightly, causing the pads to snap shut. The long “teeth” at the edges of the pad interlock to keep the insect from escaping.
 

Exercise 2 Write a topic sentence for this paragraph. Then revise the paragraph to support and develop the idea in your topic sentence.

This means that they do not have a backbone. Many kinds of animals are included in this category. Corals and sea anemones, which are both in the sea, have a plantlike appearance. Other invertebrates are agile predators. Some invertebrates are very simple animals that never move. A spider can dart quickly when attacking its prey. Crabs and lobsters can move quickly. Beetles, butterflies, and bees are all in this class. Invertebrates such as worms, snails, and starfish move at a slower pace. One of the largest classes is the insects. You can see from these examples there are many different kinds of invertebrates.

Most of the world’s animals are invertebrates. This means that they do not have a backbone. Many kinds of animals are included in this category. Some invertebrates are very simple animals that never move. For instance, corals and sea anemones have a plantlike appearance. However, other invertebrates are agile predators. A spider can dart quickly when attacking its prey. Crabs and lobsters can move quickly, too. Invertebrates such as worms, snails, and starfish move at a slower pace. One of the largest classes of invertebrates is the insects. Beetles, butterflies, and bees are all in this class. You can see from these examples there are many different kinds of invertebrates.

The Writing Process: Revising

Once you have revised the content of your paragraphs, you can revise the structure. The idea is to create sentences that make your paragraphs lively and interesting to read. Each sentence should flow smoothly into the next. Varying the length of your sentences can help. Rather than writing all long sentences or all short ones, try to create a balance. Divide a long sentence into two short ones to grab a reader’s attention. Combine two or three short sentences into one longer, flowing sentence by using a connecting word such as or, and, or but. Read your sentences aloud to hear how they sound. A combination of long and short sentences will form a pleasing pattern.
 

Exercise 1 Combine the short sentences into one longer sentence. Divide the longer sentences into two or three short ones.

Sue had roast beef for dinner. Sue had potatoes for dinner. Sue had roast beef and potatoes for dinner.

1. Kyle likes to play football. Kyle likes to play baseball. Kyle likes to play football and baseball.

2. We met Cindy at the park. We met Jan at the park. We met Bobby at the park. We met Cindy, Jan, and Bobby at the park.

3. The wind whistled through the trees while the young girl made her way through the deep, dark forest. The wind whistled through the trees. The young girl made her way through the deep, dark forest.

4. I tried strawberry ice cream. I like chocolate better. I tried strawberry ice cream, but I like chocolate better.

5. The first television program was fast-paced and exciting, and the second television program was slower and rather dull. The first television program was fast-paced and exciting.
The second television program was slower and rather dull
 

Exercise 2 Revise the following paragraph.

Yesterday my class visited the new zoo, and I found it far more interesting than the old zoo because of the way the animals are kept. There are no old-fashioned cages with bars. Instead, natural-looking areas with fences prevent the animals and visitors from getting hurt. You would not believe how many animals live in this zoo! I saw elephants. I saw eels. I saw cute baby koala bears. The zoo director explained how each kind of animal lives in the wild. The zoo director explained how her staff has tried to reproduce those conditions within the zoo. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and I hope to go back soon.

Yesterday my class visited the new zoo. I found it more interesting than the old zoo because of the way the animals are kept. Instead of the old-fashioned cages with bars, fences surround natural-looking areas and prevent animals and visitors from getting hurt. You would not believe how many animals live in this zoo! I saw elephants, eels, and cute baby koala bears. The zoo director explained how each kind of animal lives in the wild and how her staff has tried to reproduce those conditions within the zoo. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I hope to go back soon.