Revision in the Writing ProcessBy Sami Safiullah

Why do I need to revise my paper?

Revision is perhaps the most crucial component to essay writing. It helps decrease writing anxiety, improves rhetoric quality, and even helps boost a paper’s grade!

Personal editing, peer editing, and sessions with the Writing Center are all excellent revision devices that are available to all students. Utilizing these resources will ensure that you write the best paper you are capable of creating.

Congratulations!

You’ve finished your first draft.

Now what?

Most of us are tempted to write that first draft at 3am, and call it quits. However, that is only one step in the writing process! After the first draft is completed, there are grammar, substantive, citation, and overall comprehension checks that must be done!

So guzzle that Red Bull and let’s keep on working (I promise we’ll get through it in one piece!)

Step 1:Put the paper down and step away!

Give your brain a break. If you have the time, leave the paper alone and sleep on the ideas before coming back the next day.

If you are pressed for time, take a 30 minute break to refresh and regenerate your thought process.

Step 2:Check for the basic essay components

Do check that your paper contains the following:

Introduction

Thesis

Body paragraphs with correctly cited evidence

Conclusion

Do not worry about mechanics, grammar, and formatting yet.

Step 3:Make sure the paper does not deviate from the thesis

Delete paragraphs that only tangentially relate to your ideas.

Elaborate on the ideas that strengthen your thesis, and place less emphasis on secondary ideas

Use evidence, analysis, and rhetoric to tie any loose ends and reign in ideas that wander beyond your paper’s scope

Step 4:Read the paper out loud and check for clarity

Mark any parts that do not make sense, sound choppy, or do not flow properly

Check your syntax, re-write the sentences, and make sure that you are satisfied with the revision.

Erase segments that do not make sense or do not flow, and replace them with newly written thoughts

Step 5:Address paper mechanics

Rearrange paragraphs to improve idea flow

Check for transitions between each paragraph, idea, and statement

Complete a full grammar and spelling assessment

Format all citations correctly

Repeat as many times as necessary

Revision is a continuous process

Do not feel pressured to submit a paper until wholly satisfied with its final content, style, and overall quality

Feel free to share the paper with your professor and classmates for additional suggestion

Remember to enjoy the writing and revision processes. Best of luck!