REVISING YOUR ESSAY

P A R T O F G A V I L A N WR I T I N G C E N T E R ’ S P O R T F O L I O S E R I E S

PRACTICAL S

TEPS TO

SUCCESSFULLY

REVISING

YOUR ES

SAY Analyze your essay for organization.Verify sources are cited correctly.Edit and proofread your final draft.

START WITH THE BIG CONCERNS…

Switch from

Writer-Centered

to Reader-

Centered

Analyze Organiza

tion

Tighten Sentence

s and Languag

e

Verify Sources are Cited Correctly

Eliminate Mistakes

in Grammar

and Usage

Check Formatti

ng

…AND THEN WORRY ABOUT EDITING

SWITCH FROM WRITER-CENTERED TO READER-CENTERED

•Detach yourself from what you’ve written. Pretend this is someone else’s essay.•What is the most successful part of the essay? Why? How could this part be made better?

•What is the least successful part of the essay? Why? How could this part be improved?

Pretend You

Didn’t Write It

• Read to a friend, to a pet, or to a mirror.• Have someone read the essay to you.• Listen for awkward phrases, confusing parts—anything that sounds

funny or wrong. Mark these quickly to revise later, but then keep reading!

• Remember—if you are even slightly confused, your reader will be VERY confused.

Read Aloud

• Work with someone else in your class to complete the strategies above.

• Trade papers and use the T.I.P.S.+ handout (in the handout tower) or complete the strategies above.

• Listen carefully to their suggestions and be respectful when you give yours.

Peer Edit

Post-Draft Outline An extremely helpful

revision strategy. Go through your draft and

underline ONLY the thesis and main point of each paragraph.

Using these main points, make a new outline.

Allow yourself to rearrange the main points so they flow as logically as possible.

Write Thesis Statement at top of a sheet of paper.

Paragraph 1 Main Point >para.2

Paragraph 2 Main Point >para.1

Paragraph 3 Main PointParagraph 4 Main Point >

para.6Paragraph 5 Main Point

(delete)Paragraph 6 Main Point >

para.5

ANALYZE ORGANIZATION

Use theT.I.P.S.+

handout

WRITE ANOTHER DRAFT Writing is a Process

Most successful writers make many more than one draft. If you are having trouble, open a clean word document and start fresh.

By retyping your paper—even if you are typing most of the same sentences—you will automatically correct awkward phrases, find better words, and in general make your essay stronger.

Things to Consider When Starting a New Draft Each paragraph should have a single easily identifiable main point.

If there is more than one main point, consider whether you need a paragraph for each main point, if all the points are supporting your thesis, or if you

If you cannot find a main point, consider what the paragraph adds to your essay. It’s okay to get rid of paragraphs and to add new ones. That’s what revision is all about!

VERIFY SOURCE CITATIONUse your Handbook•Rules of Thumb•A Writer’s Reference

Use OWL Purdue• http://

owl.english.purdue.edu

Come to a Workshop•MLA Documentation•APA Documentation

Visit www.gavilan.edu/writing/ for the workshop calendar.

And don’t forget: you can always drop by

to visit your friendly, helpful writing

assistants at the Writing Center!

EDIT AND PROOFREADCome to a Workshop:• Slaying the Grammar Dragon• Mastering the Mechanics

Use these Great Handouts:• Common Mistakes• Steps for Revising & Editing

(Proofreading) Your Paper• Transitional Words• Increasing Your Vocabulary• And More!!!

Make sure the essay follows your teacher’s instructions.

• Font size• Spacing• Page

Numbers• Name/Date• Works Cited/

Reference page

CHECK FORMATTING