ABSTRACT
This is the first of three chapters on rewriting. Rewriting begins with the largest changes and proceeds to the smallest, as illustrated by the metaphor of a tailored suit. Just as a suit needs to be laid out carefully, then cut, before it can be stitched together and details added, it does not make sense to add connectors and consider the connotation of words until the order of the paragraphs and sentences is established. Thus, this chapter describes changes at the level of organization, particularly the first two of the 7Cs of Change: coherence and conciseness. To evaluate coherence, the main question is how well the order of paragraphs and sentences supports the main claim of each division. Specific suggestions are given, including placing known information first, ordering claim and support, and considering various sequencing strategies. For conciseness it is important to remove material not related to the current writing, as well as unnecessary words. While most beginning writers will find it beneficial to begin with coherence, some using English as a first language may find it helpful to start with conciseness. Additional classroom exercises are available in the online supplemental material to practice these skills.
