REVISING YOUR ESSAY PART OF GAVILAN WRITING CENTER’S PORTFOLIO SERIES

PRACTICAL STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY REVISING YOUR ESSAY 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 Organization Tighten Sentences and Language Verify Sources are Cited Correctly Eliminate Mistakes in Grammar and Usage Check Formatting …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 Point Paragraph 4 Main Point >para.6 Paragraph 5 Main Point (delete) Paragraph 6 Main Point >para.5 ANALYZE ORGANIZATION

Use the T.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 CITATION Use your Handbook Rules of Thumb A Writer’s Reference Use OWL Purdue Come to a Workshop MLA Documentation APA Documentation Visit 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 PROOFREAD Come 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