Revising

The word revising means to look at again (re vision). A revised copy is not simply a neater copy of your rough draft. Nor is it just about making it "correct". Revision involves making actual changes in content, organization, and language to make your work more effective. When you revise, you may add, change, delete, or rearrange words or information. Your decisions will be affected by your purpose, audience, persona, and format.

Here are some strategies to help you revise your work:

• Review your first draft to see which parts work and what needs to be changed:
  • Is the content interesting and worthwhile?
  • Is the style natural and effective in getting your message across?
  • Do the ideas and information flow?
• As you review your work, think about your purpose, audience, persona, and format. Be sure you have met all the criteria for each of these variables.
• Check your thesis statement. It should be sharp, clear, and focused. If it is fuzzy, fix it. If you have no focus or main idea, add one.
• Ensure that your thesis statement is fully developed. Add information to support your ideas or to make additional points.
• Delete information that doesn't support your thesis statement or research question.
• Check your title to be sure it is significant and relevant.
• Rearrange paragraphs, phrases, or words to create emphasis, clarity, impact, or effectiveness.
• Change words or rewrite entire parts for the sake of clarity, interest, or impact and to eliminate wordiness.
• Delete unnecessary repetition.
• Reflect upon the changes you have made. Do they work? Can you improve what you have done?