Writing Center
Youngstown State University

Revision Strategies

The first and most important thing to keep in mind about revision is that it is not the same as proofreading; in fact, the two are barely related. Proofreading is actually the final step before you turn in your paper while revision is part of the ongoing cycle of writing. Remember that a good deal of your thinking comes to you as you are writing and revising, not before you sit down to write. Often your thinking on a subject doesn't develop fully until you write it out and rethink it, so plan on revising. Expect to scribble things out, tear sheets up, and occasionally start all over; the rest of us do!

The first step is obvious, then: Recondition yourself to think of revision as an important part of your writing process, and leave the proofreading and editing exercises until last. Trying to perfect a paper or report the first time through is time-consuming, and often ideas can be lost while a writer is working on the sentence structure in a piece of writing. Get those ideas down on paper, revise them, and then proofread as a final step. Some of the strategies listed below may help you revise more effectively:

• You might try the cut and paste method. Cut the paragraphs apart (or write each one on an index card). Then arrange and re-arrange them in various ways. Can you spot any holes, such as a lack of transition between paragraphs? Could your introduction make a better conclusion?
• Mark those drafts up with your pen or pencil. Scratch things out, draw arrows and circles, jot down new evidence or ideas as they hit you, etc. Don't let what might be your most effective idea get lost because you don't want to mess up the paper with chicken scratch.
• Understand why you are making changes in your writing. If you've changed your title, know that your intention is to be more specific to your subject or to be more humorous. If you're adding text somewhere, know that it's relevant text that will clarify your thesis. In other words, don't make changes just for the sake of making changes.
• When you're basically satisfied that you've accomplished in your paper what you intended to do, when you feel that your audience will understand (and perhaps even applaud) your thesis and its support, you can proofread that final copy. When your ideas are developed and your basic essay content is healthy, you can proofread for sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, etc.

See sample student work:

• Research Paper Draft

Using Sources Fairly & Accurately

Editing & Proofreading

E-mail your comments and suggestions to the YSU Grant Team (cardcat@bgnet.bgsu.edu).