As one student put it, “If I knew what I needed to change, I would have done it when I drafted the paper!” Even experienced writers cannot keep track of all the questions they could ask themselves to improve their drafts as they write. Revising means looking for opportunities for improvement that did not occur to you in the midst of drafting.

Your goal in revising is to make your writing clearer and stronger. Revision is more than looking for problems with individual words and sentences. It means improving your organization and support and making sure you have effectively addressed your audience and achieved your purpose.