howtowrite3e

Revising Your Own Work

Chapter Opener

revise and edit

Revising Your Own Work

How much time should you spend revising a draft? That depends on the importance of the document and the time available to complete it. A job-application letter, résumé, or term paper had better be impressive. But you shouldn’t send even an e-mail without a quick review, if only to make certain you’re directing it to the right people and that your tone is spot-on. Errors might not bother you, but don’t assume that other readers are just as easygoing. A well-edited piece always trumps sloppy work.

How you revise your work is a different matter. Some people edit line by line, perfecting every sentence before moving on to the next. Others write whole drafts quickly and then revise, and others combine these methods.

In most cases, it makes sense to draft a project fairly quickly and then edit it. Why? Because revising is hierarchical: Some issues matter more to your success than others. You might spend hours on a draft, getting each comma right and deleting every unneeded word. But then you read the whole thing and get that sinking feeling: The paper doesn’t meet the assignment or is aimed at the wrong audience. So you trash paragraph after carefully edited paragraph and reorganize many of your ideas. Maybe you even begin from scratch.

Wouldn’t it have been better to discover those big problems early on, before you put in so many hours polishing the punctuation? With major projects, consider revising and editing sequentially, starting with the top-tier issues like content and organization. Think of revising as making sweeping changes, and editing as finessing the details.

Revise to see the big picture. Be willing to overhaul a whole project, if necessary. Of course, you’ll need a draft first and it should be a real one with actual words on the page, not just good intentions. Revisions at this top level may require heavy rewrites of the paper, even starting over. Whatever it takes.

Does the project meet the assignment? You really can get so wrapped up in a paper that you forget the original assignment. If you received an assignment sheet, go back and measure your first draft against its specifications. If it asks for a report and you have offered an argument, prepare for a major overhaul. Review, too, any requirements set for length, format, or use of sources.
Does the project reach its intended audience? Who will read your paper? Are its tone and level of vocabulary right for these people? Have you used the type of sources readers expect: scholarly articles and books for an academic audience? Adjustments to satisfy the assigned audience may ripple throughout the piece.
Does the project do justice to its subject? This is a tough question and you may want to get another reader’s input. It might also help to review successful models of the assignment before you revise your paper. Look for such work in magazines, newspapers, and textbooks. How well does yours compare?

Edit to make the paper flow. There are different opinions as to exactly what flow means when applied to writing, but everyone agrees that it’s a good thing. With the major requirements of an assignment met, check how well you have put the piece together.

Does the organization work for the reader? You may understand the paper, but will its structure be obvious to readers? Is a thesis statement, when one is required, clearly in place? Do your paragraphs develop coherent points? Pay particular attention to the opening sentences in those paragraphs: They must both connect to what you just wrote and preview the upcoming material.
Does the paper have smooth and frequent transitions? Transitional words and phrases are road signs to help keep readers on track. Make sure they appear not only at the beginning of paragraphs but also throughout the project.
Is the paper readable? Tinker to your heart’s content with the language, varying sentence structures, choosing words to match the level of style you want, and paring away clumsy verbiage (which almost rhymes with garbage). Review Part 5 on style and apply those suggestions to the paper at this stage.

Edit to get the details right. When editing a paper, nothing clears your mind as much as putting a draft aside for a few days and then looking at it with fresh eyes. You will be amazed at all the changes you will want to make. But you have to plan ahead to take advantage of this unsurpassed editing technique. Wait until the last minute to complete a project and you lose that opportunity.

Is the format correct right down to the details? Many academic and professional projects follow templates from which you cannot vary. In fact, you may be expected to learn these requirements as a condition for entering a profession or major. So if you are asked to prepare a paper in Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) style, for instance, invest the few minutes it takes to get the titles, margins, headings, and page numbers right. (understand citation styles) Give similar attention to the formats for lab reports, e-mails, Web sites, and so on. You’ll look like a pro if you do.
Are the grammar and mechanics right? Word-processing programs offer a surprising amount of help in these areas. But use this assistance only as a first line of defense, not as a replacement for carefully rereading every word yourself. Even then, you still have to pay close attention to errors you make habitually. You know what they are. (help with common errors)
Is the spelling correct? Spell-checkers pick up some obvious gaffes but may not be any help with proper nouns or other special items — such as your professor’s last name. They also don’t catch correctly spelled words that simply aren’t the ones you meant to use: the instead of then, rein instead of reign, and so on.