Writing@CSU

Teaching Guides

Teaching Detail and Development

 

Revising

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Before you revise:
  1. Gain some distance and objectivity before rereading what you have written or having it read and reviewed by others.
  2. Reread and/or respond to your readers. Make marginal notes and focus on the overall effect of the essay rather than individual spelling, grammar, and/or style errors.
Guidelines:
  • Re-examine purpose and audience. Do you do what you intended? Do your readers understand your intentions?
  • Pay attention to the advice your readers give, but don't necessarily make all the changes they suggest.
  • Consider your point of view.
  • Make sure you are using descriptive details where appropriate.
  • Do all your details and examples support you focus?
  • What is NOT present in your subject that you might need to mention?
  • What CHANGES occur in your subject?
  • Make comparisons if they help you or your reader understand the subject better.
  • Be sure to cue or signal your reader with transitions that help readers understand:
    • space
    • chronology
    • comparison/contrast
  • Revise sentences for clarity, emphasis, and variety.
  • After you revise, edit for correct spelling, grammar, and style.

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