ABSTRACT
Close writers closely read (reread) and mindfully reflect to discover new things about their writing and themselves as writers. This method closely parallels the modus operandi of many of the writers in our rooms who approach their writing with the same well-ingrained habits and minimal mindfulness. A fun way to get students to notice and reflect on their word choice is to have them create a word cloud that represents their choices. Taking the words out of context helps students to focus in and think about words in a fresh way. Titles often reflect the writer’s theme or heart of their writing and provide insight into their thinking. Sometimes writers neglect to title their pieces or quickly attach a title with little thought. Before students can revise, they must be aware of what they have written and what they need. Rereading and reflecting are important steps on the road to revision.
