How to Revise and Edit Writing Using ARMS and CUPS

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video guides students through the final two stages of the writing process: revising and editing. Hosted in a whimsical "Fact Forest" setting, the narrator distinguishes between revising (improving content and structure) and editing (correcting mechanical errors). The video introduces two powerful mnemonic devices—ARMS (Add, Remove, Move, Substitute) for revision and CUPS (Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling) for editing—to help young writers systematically improve their work. Key themes include the distinction between subjective improvements and objective corrections, the importance of audience awareness, and specific strategies for enhancing clarity and engagement. The video demonstrates these concepts using a sample paragraph about Antarctic exploration, modeling exactly how to replace vague words with specific vocabulary, improve sentence flow, and fix grammatical mistakes. It emphasizes that writing is a process that moves from "good to great" through careful review. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent anchor for a writing workshop. It provides concrete, memorable strategies that students can immediately apply to their own drafts. The step-by-step demonstration of correcting a paragraph offers a clear model for students to follow, demystifying the often-abstract concepts of "flow" and "voice." It encourages students to view writing as an iterative craft rather than a one-time task.