Revising and Editing
For more revising and editing strategies, see Ch. 23.
When you’re writing a paper that takes a stand, you may fall in love with the evidence you’ve gone to such trouble to collect. Taking out information is hard to do, but if it is irrelevant, redundant, or weak, the evidence won’t help your case. Play the crusty critic as you reread your paper. Consider outlining what it actually includes so that you can check for missing or unnecessary points or evidence. Pay special attention to the suggestions of friends or classmates who read your draft for you. Apply their advice by ruthlessly cutting unneeded material, as in the following passage:
For online Take Action help, go to Re:Writing.
Use the Take Action chart on “Re:Writing” to help you figure out how to improve your draft. Skim across the top to identify questions you might ask about strengthening support for your stand. When you answer a question with “Yes” or “Maybe,” move straight down the column to Locate Specifics under that question. Use the activities there to pinpoint gaps, problems, or weaknesses. Then move straight down the column to Take Action. Use the advice that suits your problem as you revise.
REVISION CHECKLIST
- Is your main point, or thesis, clear? Do you stick to it rather than drifting into contradictions?
- Where might you need better reasons or more evidence?
- Have you tried to keep in mind your readers and what would appeal to them? Where have you answered their likely objections?
- Have you defined all necessary terms and explained your points clearly?
- Is your tone suitable for your readers? Would any wording alienate them, or, at the other extreme, sound weak or apologetic?
- Might your points seem stronger if arranged in a different sequence?
- Have you unfairly omitted any evidence that would hurt your case?
- In rereading your paper, do you have any excellent, fresh thoughts? If so, where might you make room for them?
See more editing and proofreading strategies.
After you have revised your argument, edit and proofread it. Carefully check the grammar, word choice, punctuation, and mechanics — and then correct any problems you find. Wherever you have given facts and figures as evidence, check for errors in names and numbers.
EDITING CHECKLIST
For more help, find the relevant checklist sections in the Quick Editing Guide. Turn also to the Quick Format Guide beginning.
| Is it clear what each pronoun refers to? Does each pronoun agree with (match) its antecedent? Do pronouns used as subjects agree with their verbs? Carefully check sentences that make broad claims about everyone, no one, some, a few, or some other group identified by an indefinite pronoun. | A6 | ||
| Have you used an adjective whenever describing a noun or pronoun? Have you used an adverb whenever describing a verb, adjective, or adverb? Have you used the correct form when comparing two or more things? | A7 | ||
| Have you set off your transitions, other introductory elements, and interrupters with commas, if these are needed? | C1 | ||
| Have you spelled and capitalized everything correctly, especially names of people and organizations? | D1, D2 | ||
| Have you correctly punctuated quotations from sources and experts? | C3 |