Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her organization?
For several reasons, plagiarism is a major issue in schools today. Part of the problem is that many students don't even know what plagiarism means exactly. For teachers, it can be a challenge to spot plagiarism. As a result, several Internet services have been created to help teachers detect copied material by showing the sources of passages that aren't original. Students need to know that any act of using another person's ideas or words without giving credit to that person is plagiarism. They must understand how serious the consequences can be. People who plagiarize may have their reputation and credibility destroyed, and they may be in violation of copyright laws. It is important for students and teachers to work together to prevent plagiarism.
by making a general statement before giving examples by removing text unrelated to the main idea by discussing one topic before moving on to another
During peer review, you read and respond to a fellow student's writing. While there are many methods and strategies that you can use for reviewing a text, it is generally helpful to frame your suggestions in concrete and constructive ways and to consider the following areas for revision:
Ideas and development: Does the writer express a clear idea and develop it with evidence, examples, or analysis?
Organization: Does the writer order ideas in a clear, logical way so that they build on one another and are easy to follow?
Voice: Does the writer maintain an appropriate voice, such as a formal and objective voice in an academic essay or an engaging and expressive voice in a narrative essay?
Sentence fluency: Does the writer use sentences that vary in structure and length to create a sense of rhythm and flow within and between sentences, or does the writing sound choppy, rambling, or repetitive?
Word choice: Does the writer use words accurately and precisely to create clear, effective, and engaging writing?
Grammar and mechanics: Does the writer follow appropriate conventions, using accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar to create writing that is correct and easy to read?
The writer could best improve his or her organization by discussing one topic before moving on to another.
For example, the writer could move the underlined text to follow the second sentence so that all the information about students comes before the part about teachers.
For several reasons, plagiarism is a major issue in schools today. Part of the problem is that many students don't even know what plagiarism means exactly. For teachers, it can be a challenge to spot plagiarism. As a result, several Internet services have been created to help teachers detect copied material by showing the sources of passages that aren't original. Students need to know that any act of using another person's ideas or words without giving credit to that person is plagiarism. They must understand how serious the consequences can be. People who plagiarize may have their reputation and credibility destroyed, and they may be in violation of copyright laws. It is important for students and teachers to work together to prevent plagiarism.