Explain what to look for when revising a paper (e.g. adequate support, effective and varied transitions between ideas, a clear beginning and end, clear logic, etc.).
Explain how studying professors’ notes can help to revise a paper.
Explain how to use a revision checklist to edit for grammar, mechanics, style, tone, purpose and focus.
Explain how to use a revision checklist to edit for grammar, mechanics, style, tone, purpose and focus.
Explain other choices for revising a paper.
This packet should help a learner seeking to understand how to revise a paper and who is confused about what revising technique to use. It will explain how to edit for correctness after writing the paper.
For some classes, students are asked or required to turn in a rough draft of their papers. This may seem boring, but it is actually a great opportunity! When the rough draft is returned, go through it carefully. Looking for the following things can help a student ensure that he or she gets the most out of the rough draft experience.
Source: Dan Reade
One of the easiest ways to ensure that a student has examined all parts of his or her paper is through the use of a checklist. This handy guide can help ensure that any writer hasn't overlooked anything when moving from the rough draft through the revision process to the final paper. The revision checklist below is an example of one such guide. It helpfully breaks down a paper into various segments, such as audience and organization, so that the writer can focus carefully on each part of his or her product.
Source: Creative Commons: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
One of the most popular ways to revise a paper is through peer review, i.e. the process of having students read and react to each other's papers. While peer review can be done in a variety of ways, frequently instructors provide guides in order to make the reviews more effective. Students can use the guide below to help get structured feedback from their peers.
Source: tomcas. (2008, May 19). Peer Review Checklist. Retrieved January 08, 2011, from Free Online Course Materials — USU OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.usu.edu/English/intermediate-writing/english-2010/-2010/peer-review-checklist.html.
Many instructors use rubrics, or grading sheets, when reviewing student papers. Asking for a copy of the rubric ahead of time can be a great way to revise. With the rubric in front of him or her, a writer can know which areas to focus on in order to improve his or her grade. An example of a rubric is provided below.
Source: Dan Reade
All papers require revision. No one ever writes a perfect first draft. When students take the time to revise, they improve not only the quality of their papers but the grades they receive. Utilizing the techniques shown above can go a long way towards ensuring that any student's paper is the best it can possibly be.
Source: Dan Reade