Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Approach global revision in cycles
Revising, editing, and reflecting
A process for writing

Revision is more effective when you approach it in cycles, rather than attempting to change everything all at once. Focus on the big-picture global elements — engaging your audience, sharpening your focus, improving organization, and strengthening content — before revising and editing your sentences. See the box below for questions to ask while revising globally.

CHECKLIST FOR GLOBAL REVISION

Purpose and audience

✵ Does the draft address a question, a problem, or an issue that readers care about?

✵ Is the draft appropriate for its audience? Does it account for the audience’s knowledge of and possible attitudes toward the subject?

Focus

✵ Is the thesis clear? Is it prominently placed?

✵ Does the thesis answer a reader’s “So what?” question? (See 1c.)

✵ If the draft has no thesis, is there a good reason for omitting one?

Organization and paragraphing

✵ Is each paragraph unified around a main point?

✵ Does each paragraph support and develop the thesis with evidence?

✵ Have you stated the main point of each paragraph in a topic sentence?

✵ Have you presented ideas in a logical order?

✵ Does each paragraph flow from one to another without gaps or bumps?

Content

✵ Is the supporting material relevant and persuasive?

✵ Which ideas need further development? Have you left readers with any unanswered questions?

✵ Do major ideas receive enough attention?

✵ Where might you delete redundant or irrelevant information?

Point of view

✵ Is the dominant point of view — first person (I or we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, it, one, or they) — appropriate for your purpose and audience?