Lesson 8: Edit and Improve Writing

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟢 A. Writing with Structure

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Objective

I can revise my writing with ARMS (Add, Remove, Move, Substitute) and edit with CUPS (Capitals, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling) to make my paragraph clear and correct.

Materials

Tip: Revise first to improve ideas and order, then edit to fix mechanics.

Mini-lesson — ARMS & CUPS

  1. ARMS (Revise): Add missing details, Remove off-topic parts, Move ideas for flow, Substitute stronger words.
  2. CUPS (Edit): Capitals, Usage (is/are, was/were), Punctuation (., ? , ! , ,), Spelling.
  3. Read aloud to hear what sounds unclear or choppy.
  4. Stay on topic: Every sentence should connect to the main idea.
  5. One change at a time: Revise → then edit → then final read.

Guided Practice — From Rough to Ready

Start with this rough paragraph about classroom plants. Use ARMS to revise, then CUPS to edit.

rough draft: we have a plant in our class it sits in the corner. the leaves look sad. my friend waters it sometimes and we forget. the plant is cool because it is green and tall. we put it by the window yesterday.

  1. Add one detail that explains why the plant needs light or water.
  2. Remove any word that repeats without helping.
  3. Move sentences to make a better order (problem → actions → result).
  4. Substitute stronger words for sad and cool.
  5. Now apply CUPS to fix capitals and end marks.

Use the pad to draft your improved version.

Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: Read aloud slowly—fix the first thing you notice on each pass.

Drag & Drop — Choose the Best Fix

Build sentences or choose the right improvement. Keep punctuation at the end.

Theleaveslookeddroopyanddry.
Wemovedtheplanttothesunnywindow.
Firstwewatereditthenwewatchedthesoilsoak.
Weforgetsometimessowemadeawateringchart.
OnMondayMariacheckedthesoilandlight.
ByTuesdaytheplantperkedupagain.
Wegaveitwaterlightandcare.
Becausetheleavesweredroopywecheckedthewindow.
Nextwesetaremindertowaterafterlunch.
Smallchangeshelpedourclassplantgrowstrong.
Itneedslightandwatertostayhealthy.
Nowourcornerlooksbrighterandalive.

Quick Check (15 questions)

1) In ARMS, “S” stands for…

2) Which is part of CUPS?

3) Which sentence should be removed in a plant paragraph?

4) Best stronger word for “cool plant”:

5) Which order improves flow?

6) Choose correct usage:

7) “Add a reason” is which part of ARMS?

8) Which punctuation ends a telling sentence?

9) Which sentence uses capitals correctly?

10) Best revision for “sad leaves”:

11) Reading aloud helps you…

12) Which is a strong closing idea?

13) Choose correct spelling:

14) Which step belongs to editing, not revising?

15) Best order for improvement:

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

I will practice…

Lesson 9 →