Revision
On this page, you will find:
What is revision?
Revision is the process of "re-creating" your paper by taking what you already have and making it better. It is an attempt to see your essay in a whole new light.
What is not revision?
Revision is not simply proofreading and editing. That is, the act of revising is more than correcting surface errors or rearranging paragraphs. It requires a re-thinking of the ideas and organization of your paper as a whole. The difference between editing and revision might seem minute. Just remember, editing deals with more technical information, while revision focuses on ideas and organization of those ideas.
Why Revise?
Revision creates order out of chaos. Your objective when revising is to create a clearer expression of what you want to say. It does not mean that you have written a bad paper, it simply means that you can make it even better. Everyone, especially a person who writes professionally, needs to revise.
When to revise
Revision is not just a step between the rough draft and the final draft in the writing process. You can revise at any time, even while you are writing. Your paper can be revised during the outlining, rough draft, and final draft stages, or anywhere in between.
Strategies for revision
- Look at your assignment. How can you better fulfill it? Have you answered the questions your teacher has posed?
- Rethink your thesis. How can it be clearer or more concrete?
- What evidence or details need to be added or deleted? Have you included any unnecessary information or left important details out?
- Make an outline of your final draft. Is there any part that needs to be reorganized for better coherence?
- Does your conclusion agree with your thesis? If not, is there any way to rework your evidence or your thesis?
- Does your paper consistently deal with yout thesis, or do you wonder off aimlessly on subtopics or tangents?
For more information, see our Proofreading and Editing and Outlining pages.
