Applications / 133STEP 5: Revising—Adding and Deleting Ideas
Next, get away from the job for at least a day. Then reread the topic and your
response to it. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do^ I^ respond^ specifically^ to^ the^ topic?
- Do^ my^ details^ support^ specific^ parts^ of^ the^ topic?^ [See Sample Revision for
Specific Detail in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Have^ I^ maintained^ unity?^ [See Sample Revision for Unity in Chapter 3, Revising.]
-^ Is there an obvious order to my essay, or do I wander aimlessly as thoughts
occur? [See order, in paragraph development in the Glossary.] - Is^ the^ essay^ consistently^ lively,^ clear,^ and^ descriptive?
-^ Have I avoided the deadly trap of trying to sound sophisticated by using five-
syllable words and circuitous sentences? [See Sample Revision for Wordiness
in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Does^ the^ essay^ reflect^ my^ personality^ and^ my^ interests?^ Is^ it^ personal?
- Does^ it^ show^ thought?^ Have^ I^ avoided^ vague^ and^ empty^ sentences?
These questions give you a basis on which to make revisions. Ask the same questions
after your revision. If you can, ask a peer to read your essay and respond to the same
questions.
STEP 6: Revising—Polishing the Writing
Finally, you are ready to polish the essay. [See Chapter 3, Revising, for questions to
guide your general revision.] Use the following questions to guide revisions particu-
larly important to the college admission application essay:
-^ Do I use transitions effectively to show relationships between and among
ideas? [See Sample Revision for Transition in Chapter 3, Revising.]
- Have^ I^ varied^ both^ the^ length^ and^ structure^ of^ my^ sentences?^ Do^ I^ show^
sophisticated writing techniques? [See Sample Revision for Sentence Variety in
Chapter 3, Revising.] - Does^ my^ sentence^ structure^ show^ effective^ emphasis?^ [See Sample Revision for
Emphasis in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Is^ my^ vocabulary^ appropriate^ for^ the^ subject^ and^ the^ audience?
- Have^ I^ chosen^ the^ most^ powerful^ or^ most^ effective^ words?
STEP 7: Proofreading—Checking the Details
The necessity of proofreading should be obvious. Your accuracy with spelling,
mechanics, grammar, and usage will reflect your command of the language.