After writing the first draft, you have a lot of your ideas out there, but they may not be expressed in the most complete and clear way possible. Go back to your writing and revise. The word "revision" actually means to "vision" the essay again. Look at the essay as a whole by focusing on ideas and content. Look specifically at the suitability of the writing for your purpose, the logic and clarity of the ideas, and organization.

Try asking the following questions:

• Does the essay accomplish the purpose of the assignment?
• Is the tone appropriate for the audience?
• Is the thesis logical and clearly stated?
• Does each paragraph have just one main idea?
• Are all details logically connected to each other in each paragraph?
• Does each paragraph directly support or expand on the thesis?
• Has all extra information that does not relate to the thesis been removed?
• Does the conclusion proceed naturally from the rest of the essay?

For more information, visit:

Revision Strategies (from Youngstown State University Writing Center)

Adapted from Natascha Gast, AUC Faculty, Spring 2004