Encourage students to proofread and edit their writing using the C.O.P.S. and A.R.M.S acronyms with printable writing anchor charts and editing checklists.
Teach Editing Skills With Writing Mnemonics!
Proofreading is an essential component of the writing process that is often a significant struggle for young writers. Proofreading is an element of editing focused on the concrete skills of spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure. As teachers, we know how hard it is to get students to review their writing, and we’ve found a more accessible way using the C.O.P.S. and A.R.M.S Editing Strategy.
Acronyms remind students to proofread and edit parts of their writing. “COPS” and “ARMS” are examples of proofreading acronyms. We’ve put together a pair of writing anchor charts dedicated to these acronyms and printable mini-checklists for student use.
What Does the C.O.P.S. Mnemonic Stand For?
The COPS acronym stands for:
C: Capitalize the first word in each sentence and any proper nouns.
O: Organize your writing. Make it easy to read. Use neat handwriting, letter spacing, and
complete sentences.
P: Punctuate your sentences. Use periods, question marks, commas, exclamation marks, and quotation marks when needed.
S: Spell words correctly. Use the word wall or dictionary to help with tricky words.
What Does the A.R.M.S. Mnemonic Stand For?
The ARMS acronym stands for:
A: Add sentences to your writing.
R: Remove unnecessary words and sentences.
M: Move sentences and words around to make them sound better.
S: Substitute overused and boring words and sentences with better ones.
Download and Print Your Writing Anchor Charts
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