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VIII. Revising the Research Paper

More than proofreading More than correcting grammar

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Table of Contents1. On Revision 3-52. Steps of Revision 6

A. Thesis Statement 7-9 B. Coherence, Order of Ideas,

Support Material 10-12 C. Introduction and Conclusion 13-15

D. Editing - Vocabulary, Clarity, 16 Spelling, Grammar, Mechanics

E. MLA Review 17

3. Pat’s Revised Paper and Grade 18-19

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Put the paper away for a day

Click for short video on revision from English Composition.

ZZZZ. ZZZZ.ZZZZ.

I’m tired. I can’t look at this paper any more.

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Pat really liked putting the paper away— too much!!

But

Revision won’t happen without her.

Click for brief video on ideas for revision from English Composition.

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Pat comes back to the paper ready to actively revise.

Does the paper make

sense?

How will another reader

respond? What doesn’t sound “quite

right” ?

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Steps of the Revision ProcessLook at the whole paper.

• Revise in parts Focus on the thesis statement, coherence, order of ideas, and support material. Review the introduction and conclusion.• Edit the paper in detail.• Check current MLA format.

For information on how to prioritize revision: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_hocloc.html

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• The thesis statement answers the research question.

• It is concise and specific.

• It controls the evidence/support used in the paper.

Click for a brief video giving advice on the thesis statement from English Composition.

Focus on the thesis statement.

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Pat’s Original Thesis

“The symbolic yellow wallpaper in Gilman’s story offers multiple interpretations.”

All of them relate to the

relations between men and women.

I’ll include the specific

interpretations I’m discussing.

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Pat’s Revised Thesis

Critics have interpreted the yellow wallpaper in many ways. Three

popular interpretations of its symbolism show the tension of sexual

politics between men and women in nineteenth-century America:

(1) the wallpaper as an expression of the narrator’s deteriorating

mental state (2) the wallpaper as a “pattern” of social and

economic dependence which reduces women to domestic slavery,

and (3) the wallpaper as a symbol of the confining values of the

ideal of “True Womanhood.”

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Reread the essay for coherence.

• There should be a logical flow of ideas within the paragraphs and from one paragraph to

the next.

• There should be clear transitions between

paragraphs.

For more information on coherence, check this site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/general/gl_cohere.html

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Review the order of ideas.

The ideas don’t flow smoothly. I need to move

this paragraph. And, this information is not

relevant to my thesis. It should

be deleted.

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Review support material.

Click for video clip on reviewing source material from English Composition.

Yes, my support is effective. I back up every point I

make with relevant material.

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Sharpen the introduction.

Click for video clip from English Composition.

The introduction is too long--maybe

some of these details belong in a body

paragraph.

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I’ve almost finished… But…

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Polish the conclusion.

• An effective conclusion gives the reader a sense of closure.

• It leaves the reader feeling the paper has come to a logical end.

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Final Editing

• Proofread for the types of errors frequently made such as run-on sentences, fragments, subject-verb agreement and typographical errors.

• Remember spell-check checks only the spelling. It does not check to see that the correct word is used.

• Check vocabulary to see if the most appropriate word or phrase is selected.

• Review for clarity and conciseness.

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Review MLA format.

Check the rules for documentation and for the Works Cited page.

For more information on MLA guidelines, visit this site: http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/

writing/mlaguide.html

or the BCC Library’s Citation Guides http://www.bergen.edu/library/pages/2306.asp

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Click for video to review ideas for revision from English Composition.

I did my best!I hope I get a good

grade.

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Pat’s Grade

Well done, Pat! A thoroughly researched, well organized and well-written paper!

Here is Pat’s grade. A