The Art of Revision

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The Art of Revision

• What is revision? Is it the same as editing?
• Revision isnt 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?

3
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?

4
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?

5
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?

6
Check for unity and Coherence

• unity
• Go through each body paragraph. If any sentence
  doesnt follow what the topic sentence says, take
  it out.
• coherence
• Do your topic sentences have appropriate
  transitions?
• Do your main points have appropriate transitions?

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Proofreading or Editing for Errors

• Read aloud
• Read backwards
• Know your enemies
• Learn some tricks
• Eliminate common mistakes
• Use your tools

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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
• Dont fold, spindle or mutilate!