Through Revision

If you have plenty of time to work on a paper, this is a great way to work on revising. This process requires a lot of time because you must put it away for a while, at least a day or more if possible. This allows you to see your work with fresh eyes and a better mindset for the critical task of revision. If you don't have time, then use the Quick Revising method or some of the other general strategies for revision.

Phase 1 Revision: Organization

1. As you read your paper, consider the purpose and audience for this work. For example: Are you trying to persuade other employees that your plan for the Holiday Party is the best?
2. Mark out the important or good parts of you paper.
3. Find the main point of your paper. (Remember to keep you audience in mind.)
   • In a first draft, it is often found in the conclusion.
   • If it isn't immediately apparent, try putting it away again for a few more days.
   • If that doesn't work, try to organize the good parts you marked out earlier in a way that makes sense.
   • Or, you could try to summarize each of the good parts in one sentence.
4. Organize the important parts based on your main point. If you have trouble, try to force your work into an outline.
5. Rewrite your first draft and seriously consider putting it aside for another few days before tackling language, grammar, and spelling.

Phase 2 Revision: Language and Mechanics

1. Print out your paper, then sit down and read it out loud (whisper or mouth the words if you are in public).
2. While reading out loud, try to line out redundant words and sentences.
3. Listen for places where your reading stumbles or you get confused. Either fix the problem right there by changing a few words or circle the section so that you can come back to it later.
4. When revising at the sentence level, try to use active verbs, avoid the passive voice, and to many uses of the "to be" verb (is).
5. Lastly, address issues of spelling and grammar. Before tackling this project, consider taking another break from your paper.
6. A word of Caution: word processors may alert you to possible grammar and spelling errors, but they are not always correct. Before making changes to your paper based on a spelling or grammar checker, make sure that it is in fact correct within the larger context of your paper.