Revise

Writing the second draft

Proofreading and revising are important steps in the writing process.

After writing the first draft, it is now time to edit and rewrite. This process is called revision. It is normal to revise the first draft many times before it is complete.

proofread

Proofreading means to read your work several times in order to find and correct errors. It is also very helpful to have another person read the first draft and provide feedback.

revise

Make changes to the draft based on the feedback you have received. Repeat this process as many times as necessary. Understand the first draft will have many revisions.

  1. Is the title short and clear?
  2. Is the introduction interesting and with appropriate tone?
  3. Does the topic sentence have a clear purpose and position?
  4. Is there a point and is it understandable?
  5. Is there a logical pattern of organization which is appropriate to the topic?
  6. Do the supporting sentences develop and support the topic sentence?
  7. Are there transitions and varying use of sentence structure?
  8. Is there a concluding sentence which summarizes the topic sentence?

Helpful tip: Try waiting for a period of time before revising a (final) draft. This is especially useful if no one can provide feedback. Write and revise, then put the writing away for at least one night. Reading with a fresh set of eyes can help catch errors and revise for clarity.