Simple Steps to Successful Revision in L2 Writing

Catherine Coleman
englishtutor [at] clmn.net
http://www.clmn.net/englishtutor/
California State University (Long Beach, California, USA)

About This Handout

Often second language students struggle with the editing and revision portion of the writing process. They focus first on the grammatical issues in the paper and overlook important structural problems. This handout offers a systemic organized format that students can follow to analyze and revise their own work. For this handout, global revision consists of an overall analysis of the structure and content of an essay; surface revision consists of an analysis of the paper's grammar, punctuation, word usage, etc. at the sentence level. There are two sections under each revision category: the first, Questions to Ask, includes a list of questions that students can ask themselves about their essays; the second, Revising Strategies, provides specific methods that students can immediately employee in their writing.

Global Revision: Questions to Ask

The Introduction

Is there an attention getter, such as a quote, anecdote, allegory, etc.?
Is it necessary?
Are the points clear?
Do they lead logically to the thesis?
Is there a clear recognizable thesis?
Where is it located in the paragraph?
Is that the optimum location?

The Thesis

Is it a complete sentence?
Does it assert or argue a topic? Does it take a position?
Is the language clear?
Does it have or need a counter argument?
Is it too broad or too narrow for the limitations of the assignment?
Is it located in a logical position within the paragraph?

The Paragraphs

Does each paragraph have a topic sentence that reflects back or argues/explains a point of the paper's overall thesis?
Do the subsequent points of each paragraph focus on the main ideas of the paragraph's topic sentence?
Does each paragraph advance the paper in a logical and systematic way?
Are the paragraphs too long? Are there too many points or examples within each paragraph?
Are the paragraphs too short? Is there specific supporting evidence to back the argument?
Are there too many or not enough quotations? Are the quotations explained in relationship to the thesis and the argument?
Do the paragraphs stay on the thesis topic?
Does the order of the paragraphs follow a logical sequence?
Is there any counter argument? Is it necessary?
Do the paragraphs illustrate or prove the claim of the thesis?

The Conclusion

Are there new points of argument within the conclusion? If so, is this the appropriate place for them?
Are the main points of the argument restated in an interesting way?
Is the conclusion simply a summary or does it draw some conclusion from the facts presented in the paper?
Is the last sentence of the paper memorable or weak?

Global Revising Strategies

Pointing Finger

Copy the thesis onto a separate sheet of paper. Read the thesis and then read a paragraph. Do this for each of the paper's body paragraphs. Ask yourself: Is the paragraph relevant to the thesis? Does it advance or prove the thesis? Is there any information within the paragraph that doesn't relate to the thesis? This strategy can also be used within each paragraph to check each paragraph's topic sentence and main points.

Topic Sentence Coherence

A strategy to test the overall coherence and balance of a paper is to copy the thesis of the paper and each topic sentence (generally the first sentence of each paragraph) and the paste all the sentences into one paragraph. Then read the paragraph. Do the ideas flow logically or do they jump around randomly? Are all points of the argument covered adequately; is the argument balanced? Or does one section of the paper outweigh the rest? If the sentences seem out of order, the paragraphs will be out of order which will weaken the effectiveness of the paper.

Reverse Outline

This is another strategy to check the overall order of the paper's information. Read each paragraph and sum up the main idea in one or two words. Then look at the order of the words. Is the information presented in a logical manner? Are there gaps in the linear sequence of the argument? If so, it might be necessary to add information or even rearrange the paragraphs for clarity.

Color Coordinating

This is especially effective in comparison/contrast or pro/con argumentation papers. Use different color highlighters to identify the main points of the paper. Analyze the information by colors. Do they contrast color by color (point by point) or in large blocks (block comparison)? Do the colors seem organized in a logical manner or do they appear random and confused? Would changing the colors (thus points or paragraphs) improve the structure of the argument?

Topical Analysis

For each paragraph, first identify the topic sentence, and then identify the subject, verb, and object in each sentence in the paragraph. Once this information has been accumulated, verify the logical progression of ideas from sentence to sentence as well as the relevance to the topic sentence.

Surface Revision: Questions to Ask

Word Choice

Is the spelling correct?
Are the correct forms of words being used? Consider contractions (it's/its, we're/were, etc.) and homonyms (there/their/they're, our/hour, one/won, etc.).
Are any words repeated too many times?
Is there variety in the transitions? Is the correct transition being used? For example, however means on the contrary; therefore means in addition too.
Is the language clear?

Verb Tense

Does every sentence have subject/verb agreement?
Are the verb tenses consistent throughout the essay?
Is the correct verb being used? Is there variety in the verbs?

Punctuation

Are all the sentences complete with subject and verb?
Are there comma splices? Run-on sentences?
Is the punctuation surrounding the quotation marks correct?
Is the use of any semicolons or colons correct?

Source Citation

Which documentation style is being used?
Is there a variety in use of sources including paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation?
Are the quotations explained?
Are the authors being referred to by their last name and are the names spelled correctly?
Are all references to outside sources documented correctly?
Are there any block quotations? Is the format correct?
Are the page numbers correct for the sources being used?
If the source has a URL, is it correct? Is it active? When was the last time it was checked? Are the Internet URL citations in the same font color (black) as the rest of the paper?
Is the bibliographic information page following the correct format (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)?
Has each citation been checked for exact placement of periods, commas, parentheses, etc.?
Does every citation in the paper have a corresponding citation on the bibliographic page?
Are the sources on the bibliographic page that are not used in the paper?

Miscellaneous Questions

Does the paper follow the assignment spacing guidelines?
Is the page length within assigned limits?
Is the font type and size within the assigned guidelines?
Is a title page required? If so, is the format correct?
Are footnotes or endnotes required? If so, is the format correct?
Does the Header or Footer follow the assignment guidelines?
Is the professor's name spelled correctly?
Is your name spelled correctly?
Does the paper have a title? Is it a good title? Is the title in the appropriate location?
After the final draft has been printed, are the page numbers in order? Are all the pages present?

Surface Revising Strategies

Read Aloud

Reading the paper aloud slowly can often bring to attention large and small mistakes missed in the writing and typing process. Read each sentence and ask does it make sense? Is it awkward? Am I including words that are not actually written on the paper? Sometimes reading the paper out of order can help isolate problems. Try reading the paragraphs starting with the last sentence and then reading the previous sentence and so on; this can reveal problems in the sentences.

Isolate Specific Problems

Isolating specific problems can help give objectivity to one's personal work. One way to isolate specific things is to circle them on a paper draft and look at them one by one. For example: circle all commas and then go back and look at each comma asking if it is in the appropriate place with the correct usage. Another example would be to circle all verbs and then go back one by one and identify the tense and verify subject verb agreement.

Identify Repeating Words

This can be done several ways. One is to circle common words. Another is to highlight them. Another is to do a computer search within a document. Repeating a word or phrase intentionally is a valid writing style (parallelism), yet sometimes words are repeated unnecessarily. Identifying and changing over-repeated words such as overused transitions can strengthen a paper.

Look it up

Grammar check is usually, but not always correct. If there is any doubt as to the correctness of anything in a paper, an appropriate source should be checked. When in doubt, look it up.

Time and Distance

Resting a day or two between drafts especially the final draft can bring much objectivity to the revising process. As much as possible try to allow the final draft revision to be done a least a day before the paper is due. Then a quick final scan can be made of the paper before submitting it for a grade.

The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. IX, No. 5, May 2003
http://iteslj.org/

http://iteslj.org/Technique/Coleman-WritingRevision.html