How to Revise an Essay in College? 

Did you ever pour your heart and soul into writing an exceptional essay only to get an average grade? We understand. We all have been there. The truth is writing an essay is a challenging task, but the hard work doesn’t end there. The next stage is the revision, which is a significant stage of the writing process. As a matter of fact, the real magic occurs during the revision stage. Revising your essay can make all the difference between an average paper and an outstanding one. It enables you to refine your main points or ideas, enhance the clarity of arguments, ensure the paper resonates with its intended audience, and improve the overall writing quality of your entire paper. 

However, countless students like you may find the process of revision overwhelming, arduous, and time-consuming. They start having panic attacks when it’s time to revise the paper. That’s where this comprehensive guide comes in. 

In today’s detailed post, we’ll explore why revision is significant in the writing process and provide you with a practical approach to how to revise an essay effectively. We will also highlight certain guidelines along with actionable strategies that will enable you to make this excruciating process as productive and painless as possible. 

Let’s get started!

What is Revising, and What is Its Purpose? 

Before we delve deep to comprehend how to revise effectively, let’s understand what the process of revision involves. 

Revision is the crucial part of editing that includes ‘big-picture’ changes like altering the main idea or topic, reorganizing the order of body paragraphs, evaluating the sentence structure, incorporating more vivid examples, or modifying the structure of the whole paper. It also involves detailed changes like making the word choice perfect, changing a passive voice into an active voice, eliminating redundancies, and fixing grammar and spelling errors. 

But why not turn in the essay as it is? Why is it necessary to proofread and revise the work before hitting the final ‘sent’? When one is composing a rough draft, it becomes challenging to focus on every aspect of your writing all at once. According to our eminent essay help stalwarts and editors, the process of revision gives an individual a second opportunity to zoom out and catch the errors you missed the first time. Additionally, reading the rough draft can help you catch certain errors that you haven’t even expected. 

Regardless of the kind of essay you’re composing, the methodology for revising the paper remains the same. Fiction and narrative writing may also have similar revision guidelines, but these may include certain additional literary concerns, like imagery, plot, and characterization. 

Clear till now? Well, alright, then! Let’s now proceed to the next section to figure out how to revise a paper effectively. 

How to Revise an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Most established scholars around the world will tell you that the first draft of any essay, dissertation, or thesis doesn’t matter at all. The real writing begins during the revision. And it is mainly for this reason you should never submit a paper that hasn’t been through a thorough revision and editing process. 

Let’s take a look at certain effective guidelines dished out by the eminent stalwarts of our custom dissertation writing service that you must follow to revise remarkably and enhance the quality of your paper by notches – 

Step 1 – Go Through the Essay As a Whole 

Remember, refining sentences is useless if the whole paragraph will be removed later. Similarly, paying attention to a paragraph is useless if the whole segment needs to be reworked. 

For these key reasons, ensure to work from general to specific. Begin revising by paying close attention to the overall purpose and organization of your text. And do not sweat your brows about the details at this stage. 

• Evaluate If It Fulfils the Purpose – Double-check your assignment sheet and any instructions that have been given by your teachers to make sure you’ve addressed every point of the instruction. To put it simply, make sure that your paper meets all the criteria it needs to cater to. Then, evaluate your thesis statement. Try to understand if every paragraph in your essay has a clear objective that advances your main argument. If you feel there are any irrelevant segments or whose connection to the thesis is uncertain, consider eliminating them or revising them to make your main point or points clearer. 
• Check the Organization – Next, check the essay for logical organization. Look at the ordering of different paragraphs and sections, and consider what kind of information you’ve incorporated in them. Answer the following questions – 
• Does the paper define terms, concepts, and theories before using them? 
• Does it offer all the essential background information before the paper dives into details? 
• Does the argument in the paper build up logically from one important point to another? 
• Is every paragraph clearly related to what comes before it? 

Once you’re done checking these, ensure every paragraph has a clear topic sentence that sums up its point. If certain topic sentences seem too similar, consider whether one of the paragraphs is repetitive or if its specific contribution requires clarification. If the connection between the paragraphs is not clear, you can use transition sentences to strengthen the structure. However, it’s always wise to work out the organizational issues before moving on to more writing issues. 

Step 2 – Dive Into Every Paragraph 

Next, you would want to make sure that the content of every paragraph is as strong as it can. Ensure every sentence is relevant and necessary – 

• Make sure every sentence helps support the topic sentence 
• Regardless of the different sentence pattern, each sentence must flow logically. 
• Assess for any inconsistencies in the content. Try to figure out if any of your assertions seem to contradict one another. If so, solve the disagreement and cut as necessary. 

Step 3- Revise the Content 

This is the most crucial stage of your revision phase. In this stage,  you need to focus on the overall structure, arguments, and evidence. Here are certain effective ways to revise the content of your expository, persuasive, and comparison paper – 

• Assess the Thesis Statement – The thesis of your paper is the key idea that you’re aiming to convey to your readers. It should always be clear, specific, and concise. Go through your thesis to ensure it accurately reflects the key idea. Try to determine if your essay thesis generalize instead of taking a specific position and whether you need to change it completely. If required, revise the entire statement to make it more effective. 
• Check the Introduction and Conclusion – The introduction and conclusion are vital parts of your paper. While revising, check whether your introduction captivates your reader’s attention, offers background information, and formulates a clear thesis. Also, try to evaluate if your conclusion summarizes your key points, restates your thesis, and offers closure. 
• Evaluate the Arguments and Evidence – Know that the evidence and arguments in your essay must always be clear, relevant, and convincing. Go through the arguments and evidence to ensure they support the thesis remarkably. If necessary, revise the arguments and evidence to make them more persuasive. Now, revision doesn’t necessarily mean rewriting the entire paper. Often, it implies coming up with stronger arguments to defend your position or coming up with vivid examples to illustrate your points. It often means shifting the order of the paper to help readers follow your argument or changing the emphasis of your points. It can also mean adding or deleting material to maintain emphasis and balance. 
• Analyze the Structure— In addition to evaluating your arguments, it is crucial to review the essay’s structure. Try to determine whether it has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, understand whether the structure is appropriate for the assignment prompt. If not, revise the structure to make it more logical and coherent. 

While revising the structure, also make sure to tick off the following aspects – 

• Does your essay follow a pattern that makes sense? 
• Do the transitions move your readers smoothly from one point to the next? 
• Do the topic sentences of every paragraph appropriately introduce what the paragraph is about? 
• Are all the presented facts accurate? 
• Did you spend too much time on one trivial point and neglect a more vital point? 
• Did you give ample details early on and then let your points get thinner by the end? 
• Do the body paragraphs include too many or several examples? 
• Are any statements misleading? 
• Have you offered enough details in the body paragraphs to satisfy readers’ curiosity? 
• Would your essay work better if you moved certain things around? 
• Are the resources cited accurately? 

By following the above guidelines, you’ll be able to revise the content effectively. Make sure to invest adequate time and consider every step carefully to make the necessary revisions. 

Step 4 – Polish the Essay Language 

Once you’re content with the overall structure and content of the essay, it’s time to concentrate on refining it on a sentence level. This ensures that you’ve expressed yourself clearly and fluently. 

You should now be less worried about ‘what you say’ than about ‘how you say it.’ Try to simplify, condense, and clarify every sentence, making it excessively easy for your readers to comprehend what you aim to say. 

• Avoid using complex sentences – be as direct and straightforward as possible. 
• If you’ve written excessively long sentences, try to split them into two sentences or short sentences. 
• If you’ve numerous short sentences that sound choppy, combine certain with the use of conjunctions or semicolons. 
• Ensure you’ve used suitable transition words to show the connections between different points. 
• Search for places where you’ve used the same word or phrase twice or more in consecutive sentences, and look for alternative ways to say the same thing. You could also look for ways to combine the two sentences. 
• Cut as many prepositional phrases as you can without losing your meaning.  
• Weed off any wordy or redundant sentences. 
• Look for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.  

Tips to Help You With the Revision Process 

Now that you’ve mastered the proper ways to revise an essay, let’s examine certain techniques that can help you revise your own work remarkably. 

Remember, revising an academic paper effectively is no rocket science. You can always seek assistance from an assignment or research paper help service. You can also choose to go through the following segment diligently. Here, we have provided certain foolproof tips and techniques that would not only help you revise your papers like a pro but also enable you to revamp your revision game significantly – 

Take a Break 

After writing your first draft, try to step away from it for a while. This break will help you approach the revision stage with a fresh perspective and a clear mind. 

Evaluate for Structure and Clarity 

Go through your first draft diligently and evaluate its overall structure and clarity. Make sure every paragraph has clear topic sentences and the ideas flow logically from one point to the next. 

Evaluate Your Thesis

If your essay depends on evidence or examples, be sure to scrutinize them. Try to understand if they support the argument effectively or if there are gaps or inconsistencies in the evidence. Revise or incorporate supporting details if required. 

Look for Clarity and Conciseness 

Remove any unnecessary words or phrases. Always aim for clear, concise, and straightforward language. Avoid using jargon or overly complicated sentences that may baffle your readers. 

Include Transitions 

Ensure your essay flows smoothly by using suitable transitions between paragraphs and sentences. Transitions guide your readers through your paper and help in enhancing its overall coherence. 

Evaluate Your Sentence Variety 

If more than two sentences in a row start in a similar way( for instance, a subject followed by a verb, then try using a different sentence pattern. Also, try to mix simple sentences with compound and compound-complex sentences for variety). 

Read Aloud 

Reading your essay aloud can enable you to determine awkward phrasing, unclear ideas, repetition, or unclear sentences. This strategy also enables you to hear how your paper sounds and make necessary adjustments. 

Ask for Help

Certain things are better seen from a distance. Do not hesitate to ask someone else to take a brief glance at the final paper and evaluate it with a proper checklist. You can also fall back on the best stalwarts of a reputed essay or research proposal writing service. 

Revise Multiple Times 

Don’t expect to revise your final draft in one go. Try to revise your work multiple times and make adjustments every time you go through it. 

How Do You Revise Your Writing? A Complete Checklist

Revising an essay might not be as straightforward as learning 1+1=2. However, there are certain strategies out there to bring ultimate success. 

Here is an outstanding strategy – a detailed checklist that you can use to ensure you’ve thoroughly revised the text – 

1. Does the first draft have a clear and concise key idea? Is this idea made clear to readers in a thesis early on in the paper? 
2. Does your essay have a specific purpose? Did you make this purpose clear to the reader? 
3. Does the essay introduction create an interest in the topic and compel your readers to read on? 
4. Is there a clear plan and a sense of organization in the paper? Does every paragraph develop logically from the previous point? 
5. Does your paper include enough detail and relevant evidence? 
6. Is every paragraph related closely to the paper’s central idea? Is there sufficient information in the paper to support the key ideas? 
7.  Is the key point of every paragraph clear? Is every point adequately and clearly defined in topic sentences and supported with particular details? 
8. Are there clear transitions from one paragraph to the next? Do you think the keywords and ideas have been given proper significance in the paragraphs and sentences? 
9. Are the words in the essay precise and crystal clear? Does the essay maintain a consistent tone? 
10. Is the language suitable for the audience? 
11. Is the tone consistent throughout the paper? 
12. Are there any awkward or unclear sentences that require being revised? 
13. Do you think there are words or phrases that could be substituted with more concise alternatives? 
14. Are all verb forms correct and consistent?
15. Do your pronouns refer to the suitable nouns clearly? 
16. Is there a precision in the choice of the word? 
17. Does the essay have an effective conclusion – one that focuses on the central idea and offers a sense of completeness? 
18. Do your body paragraphs offer relevant, accurate information supporting the thesis? 
19. Do you have an entry in your reference list for each citation in your essay? 

Wrapping Up, 

Every best writer knows how significant those ‘last-minute’ checks are just as you’re about to turn your paper in. It’s truly one of the worst feelings to realize a mistake in your paper after you’ve already turned it in, so revise and revise. This little time and effort can take your essay writing game to a whole new level, a level that you’ve been wishing for long but cannot achieve. 

Hence, invest adequate time, put in that extra effort, and use those last critical hours of your deadline in a way that you won’t regret. Do not rush through the process. With a little bit of practice, you can develop your revision skills and become a more successful and confident writer. Here’s wishing you all the luck!