Glossing

Video Transcript

Slide 1

Student: What exactly do you mean by glossing?

Tutor: This is another strategy for revision. When you gloss, you write down just a couple of words about each paragraph.

Student: Hmm, what is the purpose?

Tutor: The reason to gloss is to help you get a general picture of your essay, so that you think about its purpose and organization.

Student: OK, so how do I do it?

Tutor: Take a look at this demonstration.

Slide 2 — Demonstration of Glossing

Slide 3

To gloss your paper, you will read it again. This time you will comment on each of the paragraphs.

Slide 4 — Preparing to Gloss

Prepare a copy of your document so that it has a very wide margin on the right and a very narrow margin on the left. For this purpose, it might be helpful to leave a space between each paragraph. If you prefer to write your glosses by hand, print out your paper.

Slide 5

After you read each paragraph, stop. Write something very brief about each paragraph. What you write is the “gloss.” A gloss might be just one word, or it might be a short phrase or statement.

Slide 6

As you read each paragraph, write down the main idea for each paragraph. Write it in the margin next to the paragraph.

Slide 7

As you read each paragraph, ask yourself these questions:

  • Who?
  • What?
  • When?
  • Where?
  • Why?
  • How?
  • What is the purpose of this paragraph?

Slide 8 — Example

Slide 9 — Another Example

Slide 10

When you are finished, your glosses should include all the main ideas.

Make a list of all your glosses and read them.

The process of glossing should make you more aware of what you have written.

Slide 11

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Does it seem that the paragraphs are in the correct order?
  • Do all the paragraphs support your thesis statement?
  • Make any necessary revisions based on your answers.

That’s it!

Slide 12

Tutor: Glossing may help you to see the connections between various ideas. It can also show you if your paragraphs are in the right order. After you do this, you may want to think about making changes in how the paper is organized.

Student: OK, I guess it makes sense. What’s next?

Tutor: Let’s move on to the last step in revision. Click on “Using a Checklist” on the left.

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