Revision Checklist
General Questions

Answer each question, not with a "yes" or "no,"  but by citing or explaining  parts of your paper relevant to the question. The first 13 questions must be submitted with your paper. 

the answers to Questions 2-13 must be turned in with your research paper.


2. Is your thesis--the point of the paper--clear? What is it?                

3. What information have you included to support the thesis? 

4. What extraneous information, that does not support any of your thesis' ideas, should be deleted? 

5. What part(s) of  your introduction is interesting? Does it give a clear sense of what the paper is about?

Strategies to Use for better Introductions

1. Begin with an arresting fact that is central to the topic. For example, as late as the 1920s, Moby Dick was catalogued in some libraries not under fiction but under cetology, the study of whales. This fact serves as an index to Herman Melville's literary reputation.

2. Begin with a quotation that is especially fitting and incisive. The quotation should not be your first sentence.

3. Begin with a forceful assertion that challenges a belief or an assumption. For example, note this introduction from a paper on gun control:

"If freedom in America is to survive, Americans are going to have to give up some freedom.Every thirteen seconds an American buys a handgun. Many of these guns are used destructively. Since the assassination of President Kennedy, more Americans have died from gunshot wounds than all the Americans killed in World War II."

4. Begin with a reference to a current event. Observe the parallel drawn in this paper about 18th-century sentimental stories written for young women:

"The sentimental romances that were popular toward the end of the era are found beside check-out counters at supermarkets today."

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Avoid apologizing for your topic. Don't write, "Although there was little material in the library about nineteenth-century men's fashions, there was a lot about women's hairstyles ."

2. Avoid repeating your title in the introduction unless it is part of a quoted line or phrase that your introduction explains.

3. Avoid limiting your explanations to dictionary definitions of terms. Don't write, "According to Webster, boredom is...." unless you then reflect upon the definition and make it more specific to your purposes.

4. Avoid asking questions unless they are proactive, such as "Do you know how much sugar you consumed last week?" Don't write, "What is Keynesian economics?" and then proceed to answer it. And don't ask a rhetorical question if you can't be sure of the answer.  "Wouldn't you like to know more about Skylab?" may provoke the reader response, "Not particularly." In general, when you have asked a question, the answer is usually a better substitute for that sentence.



6. How is the body of your paper organized and developed logically? (Through time? As an extended comparison? A process? Categorization?Through a progression of argumentative points?)  Be sure you can answer this! How does each paragraph enhance the thesis? 

7. What material do you spend the most time developing? Is it proportionate to its importance to  your thesis? 

8. Have you documented all the borrowed words, facts, and ideas you have used?

9. Have you quoted excessively where paraphrasing or summarizing would be better? Review the proper use of quotes.

10. What is your tone? Why is it appropriate for the subject and the audience? 

11. Do you use concrete examples to illustrate your points? List a few.

12. Have you maintained a consistent point of view that does not shift from "you" to "one", or from "we" to "they"? 

13. Does your conclusion end the paper effectively?

Conclusion "Do's"

1. Use the conclusion to tie the paper together. One way to do this is to develop or allude to
some point mentioned in the introduction.

2. Answer the question: What does all this mean?

3. Show consequences of your conclusion and state a larger truth.                      


Conclusion "Do not's"

1. Don't claim more than you have actually proven.

2. Don't undercut your own work, never say: "This evidence may not convince you, but I am
convinced."

3. Don't take up a new topic or idea that requires more development.

4. Don't write concluding paragraphs that begin "In conclusion" or its equivalent. This kind of
signaling is unnecessary and unsophisticated.

5. Don't simply repeat your thesis. Elaborate on your main ideas or perhaps suggest further directions for research.

The following revision questions are not mandatory (that is, you do not need to provide written answers with your paper) but you will find them helpful.


Paragraphs

1. What is the central point for each paragraph? Is the point directly
related to the thesis? 

2. Are your paragraphs adequately developed ? Are any paragraphs only one or two sentences in length? 

3. Are any of your paragraphs too long? Can they be divided? 

4. Are there smooth transitions between your paragraphs? 

Relationships between sentences and paragraphs are signaled by the following sampling of transitional
words and phrases:

1. Contrast: but, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, though, yet, despite,
although, whereas, however

2. Results: then, as a result, therefore, hence, consequently, because, otherwise, thus, so

3. Additional Relationship: first, second, furthermore, besides, equally, another, also, in addition,
last, finally

4. Example: for instance, an illustration, such as, specifically

5. Time: next, then, until, finally, afterwards, earlier, later, subsequently

6. Conclusion: finally, in short, in brief, in other words




5. Does each sentence in the paragraph relates to its central points?


Sentences

1. Are your sentences varied in length? 

2. Are they clear and complete? Check for run-on sentences, comma splices, and fragments . 

3. Are modifiers near what they modify? 

4. Are your sentences varied in form? Are there simple, complex, and compound sentences? Have
you used coordination, subordination, and parallelism for variety and emphasis? 

5. Have you used transitions where they are needed? 

6. Have you correctly punctuated each sentence? 

7. Have you avoided wordy or vague sentences? Can any be written more concisely? 

8. Have you avoided the verb "to be" when possible? 



Words

1. Have you used a dictionary for the spelling or definition of unfamiliar words? 

2. Have you used any words (e.g. "imply" for "infer") inappropriately? 

3. Is your choice of words clear, accurate, and precise? 

4. Have you used the appropriate word in context? Is it too informal or informal? 

5. Have you avoided jargon, overly technical words, and colloquialisms?




Editing

1. One very simple instruction: READ ALOUD!

2. Do not try to catch all your errors at once. Break it down so that you read once for spelling, once for comma use, once for quotation marks and parenthesis, etc.

3. If you have problems with fragments, start at the end of your paper and read it aloud backwards, one sentence at a time. 

4. If possible, give yourself time between readings. You know where your weaknesses are, so set aside a single proofing for each problem area.