The Art of Revision

• What is revision? Is it the same as editing?– Revision isn’t simply correcting grammatical

errors [editing]. Revision entails rethinking what you have written and asking questions about the effectiveness of your paper. In revision you may add new ideas as well as subtract ideas from your paper. Through revision your papers will obtain clarity and focus. Revising means “seeing again.”

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What are the steps of revision?

• Check the structure of your essay– Check the introduction

• Is there an attention getter?

• Is there a transition to the thesis?

• Is the thesis clear?

• Does it state the topic and is it controlled?

• Is the thesis the last sentence in the introduction?

• Do the thesis points overlap?

Check each body paragraph

• Is there a topic sentence that supports the thesis? [remember that thesis link and point]

• Does the topic sentence have a transition?

• Does the paragraph have main points with transitions?

• Does each main point have a specific example?

Check the conclusion

• Is there a sentence that restates the thesis in different words?

• Did I use an appropriate ending strategy? [summary, prediction, quote, full circle, etc…]

• Did I make the conclusion strong and interesting?

• Does the last sentence sound final and conclusive?

Check the order of your essay

– Did you choose a good order for your paragraphs [emphatic, reverse emphatic, sandwich, chronological]?

– Did you choose a good order for your main points within your paragraphs?

Check for unity and Coherence• unity

– Go through each body paragraph. If any sentence doesn’t follow what the topic sentence says, take it out.

• coherence– Do your topic sentences have appropriate

transitions?– Do your main points have appropriate

transitions?

Proofreading or Editing for Errors

• Read aloud

• Read backwards

• Know your enemies

• Learn some tricks

• Eliminate common mistakes

• Use your tools

More Proofreading ideas

• Put some time between yourself and your essay• Read your essay through several times• Get someone you trust to read through your essay• Make sure your paper looks professional• Check your formatting• Don’t fold, spindle or mutilate!