Revision is…
- The process of reviewing your rough draft and making changes that bring it to a final draft.
- A process that checks for readability, logic, and clarity in your paper.
- A process that includes evaluating, adding, deleting, replacing, and moving items in your paper.
- The first step in looking at your paper before editing and proofreading.
- It allows you to see whether what you are saying is cogent and concise.
What are the differences between revising, editing, and proofreading?
Two main differences are that editing and proofreading come after revision, and editing and proofreading focus more on word- and phrase-level changes than the overall flow of the paper from one paragraph to another.
What steps should I take to revise my paper?
- Wait an hour or so after writing your paper to begin revising it. Ask yourself “Does what I am saying make sense? What do I honestly think of this paper?”
- Think BIG, as in macro-level. At this stage, do not worry about sentence errors. Focus on the overall organization and flow of your paper.
- Ask yourself “Am I focused? Does what I wrote make sense for the assignment I was given?”
- If you have a thesis statement, identify it. Ask yourself, “Does my thesis tell my readers what my paper is about (topic), how I will talk about this topic (focus), and why I am writing about it (purpose)?” If you are having trouble developing your thesis statement, check out determining a thesis.
- Once you know what you want to do with your paper, check over these areas to make sure that your thesis is supported. (Check out these pages on supporting ideas and transitions for more information):
- Check your overall tone: is your tone appropriate for the assignment? In general, avoid sounding too formal and stuffy on the one hand, and too casual on the other. Eliminate most contractions and instead write out the complete phrase.
- Make sure that your paper is balanced. Each main point should be given about the same amount of space.
- Does the conclusion of the paper tie your ideas together? Try to make your last sentence a poignant one.
Remember, revision is a process. It may take some time to get used to reading and evaluating your own writing. If you find you have a difficult time working on revision, come and speak to tutor about it. We can help guide you through the revision process.
