Revision
Revising your paper is an important step in the writing process. Here you will focus on the content of your paper, while editing will catch the finer details (like punctuation and spelling errors). Below you will find a list of questions you can answer about your paper to begin the revising process on your own. We are also happy to go over them with you in person at the tutoring center! Remember, not every question will apply to your paper–make sure you have your grading rubric on hand to know what is relevant.
At a Glance
Does the paper follow the required formatting?
The Thesis
Does it connect with main ideas from your sources/argument?
Does it say something new based upon those sources?
Introduction
Does the introduction give the reader the necessary information? What questions might the reader need answered?
- Who, What, When, Where, Why is always a good place to start.
Does the introduction capture the reader’s attention?
- Is the language exciting? Do you have a hook? Does it make your audience want to keep reading?
Body
What is the topic of the paragraph?
- Is it consistent throughout?
Does the paragraph have SPECIFIC EVIDENCE?
Do you explain why each piece of evidence is relevant?
Does the paragraph have/need quotations?
Are the quotations smoothly integrated?
Does the paragraph have a concluding statement?
Does the organization of the body make sense?
Conclusion
Has the thesis statement been proven?
Is the reader reminded of things (rather than a simple restating?)
Is there a final take-away?
Overview
Do you notice any common lower concern mistakes?
Are there any words the writer seems to rely on too much?
- If so, finding a similar word in a thesaurus is a great start to diversify the language used, but be sure you know what the new word means. They are often not exact parallels!
Is the sentence structure varied, but still understandable?