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at this time, following this, similarly. [See Sample Revision for Transition in
Chapter 3, Revising.]- Show the importance of the process in the concluding sentence or paragraph,
but avoid merely reiterating the steps.
STEP 6: Revising—Polishing the Writing
After you have finished a first draft, use the following guiding questions to find areas
for improvement:
- Does my introduction establish the importance of the process? If not, will it be
self-evident? - Are the topics grouped into three or four (but no more than five) divisions, so
the reader can easily remember the main points? - Does each division of the subject correspond to a structural division in my
paper? [See Checking Structure in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Have I organized my paper chronologically so that the reader can follow it
logically? - Have I included adequate transitions to help the reader follow the
organization? - Is my vocabulary appropriate for the intended audience? Have I defined any
unfamiliar technical words? Do my definitions include meaningful examples
or illustrations? - Are adequate details provided? Have I used comparisons, analogies, and
illustrations to clarify the parts of the process? [See Sample Revision for
Specific Detail in Chapter 3, Revising, and see Chapter 8, Comparison and
Contrast, and Chapter 5, Analogy.] - Have I maintained unity by omitting irrelevant material? [See Sample Revision
for Unity in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Have I used good sentence variety and emphasis? [See Sample Revision for
Sentence Variety and Sample Revision for Emphasis in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Does the conclusion offer a sense of completeness to the paper?
Use the answers to these questions to guide your revisions.
STEP 7: Proofreading—Checking the Details
As you check your final copy, look for grammar, mechanics, and usage problems.
[See Part IV for rules and examples.] Check spelling and word choice.