Revising an essay isn't a one-shot deal. The essayist must go through a series of exercises, at varying levels of revision, before the job is done. The good news? Those who systematically and patiently revise their essays will very likely improve their grades.
To begin, print out your essay. Do not revise on screen. Follow this little formula:
- Print out
- Mark up
- Correct
- Repeat
That is, print out your paper. Then mark up the paper for the changes you want to make. Using the marked-up paper as your guide, go back to the screen and make your corrections and changes. Then do it again.
Proofreading is Not Revision
Many students mistake proofreading for revising. There is a big difference: Proofreading is a once-over. The writer scans the essay for typos, punctuation errors, misspellings, and other sentence or word errors.
Revision looks at the bigger picture. And it's harder to do, but doing it right can make the difference between a below-average essay and an essay that comes back with an "A" or "B" written on top.
When revising an essay, the writer looks at the following elements, preferably in this order:
- Thesis formulation and focus
- Organization
- Connection of thesis to body paragraphs
- Connection of introduction to conclusion
- Links from one paragraph to the next
- Sentence and word errors
Organize by topic, and let your thesis be your guide
Usually, it is best to organize by categories and concepts, not by time or by a run-down of what your various sources have to say on your subject. If you organize according to your thesis and break your thesis topic down into sub-topics, your paper will flow. When revising for organization, check that most of your paragraphs have a topic sentence, and that the paragraph does not stray from that topic sentence. Also check to see that the topic sentence is related somehow to the thesis statement.
Compare Introduction to conclusion
This is the next step in revision. Your conclusion should echo -- but not parrot - your introduction. If there is a problem introduced at the beginning, its resolution should be presented in the conclusion. if there is a strong claim stated in the introduction, that claim should be emphasized at the end, with a spin made possible by all your support. The best assurance of a strong connection between introduction and conclusion is an image. Let's say you're writing about the way universities treat their star athletes. You might start with an image of a young man just out of high school, grinning and pumped up about getting a football scholarship. You might end with that same young man, demoralized and disillusioned, looking worried and unhappy.
Connect one paragraph to the next
Most paragraphs should refer back to the previous paragraph in some way. Ideally, the first sentence of one paragraph should repeat or clearly refer back to a word or phrase in the last sentence of the previous paragraph. These references from paragraph to paragraph link and tie your whole paper together, like sewing does a quilt. Circle the words or phrases or images that refer from one paragraph to the next.
Sometimes, you may need to devote an entire paragraph to transitioning to a different aspect of your subject. That's fine. But other than those transitional paragraphs, all paragraphs need to link.
Now it's time to proofread
To proofread is to look for and find the little errors: omissions or slips of punctuation, misspellings or misuse of words, sentence structures that are labored or twisted.
Do not depend on Spellcheck to catch your spelling errors. Some embarrassing errors can result. (This college English instructor has had students who had the word 'genital' where them mean to have the word 'gentle.') It is best to do your proofreading on a printout of your essay - not on the screen.
Check especially for words that sound alike, but have different meanings, such as to - too, there - their , where - were, break - brake. Again, spellcheck will not catch or correct these errors. The writer must do so. While you're at it, check for misuse of apostrophes. Only use them where necessary.
After going through this series of revisions systematically, and making changes patiently and methodically, save your essay, print it out. And do it again.
Your reward could very well be an "A" written on top of the paper your teacher returns to you.
Leah Abramovitz - Laura Bernell, Professional Writer since 1984; Community College Adjunct English Instructor since 1982.
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