A lot of effort is put into a paper, starting with research, then the development of the main idea, moving onto the inclusion of sources and then editing all these elements together. When you consider the composition is finalized, it must be revised, you must reread it to make sure that everything is correct and in place and that it reaches your initial expectations. Many people skip this final step.

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I, myself as a writer have done this several times, it seems tedious and unnecessary to revise my writing sometimes, but in the back of my mind I know that the right thing is to give it a final read and make corrections if necessary. Meaghan from the revision project, who is a student herself, confesses: “I always want things to be done, and I just want to cross them off my to-do list, and I just want to put it away, and not see it again.”  This was her mindset before college when she would sometimes skip the revision stage of her papers. I know many people think the same way, but even making a revision at the end can benefit your work greatly.

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The experienced writer Laura Giovanelli firmly states: “What writers need is revision. Novice writers, experienced writers, all writers.” To be clear, we all must revise our writing, experienced or not. Giovanelli goes a step further and says that its not something that should only be done at the end of the writing process but that “revision is the writing”. Once we get comfortable revising and make it a regular habit, we should be able to implement several revisions throughout our writing process, after all maybe one of your best ideas emerges from one of these revisions. To be realistic let’s start with that, at least push yourself to have one final revision, it will take your paper from good to great.

 

 

References:

The revision project: “What’s the most important thing I should know about revision?” video by Meaghan. Retrieved from: https://melo3drevisionproject.wordpress.com/for-students/59-2/

Bad ideas about writing, “Strong writing and writers don’t need revision” by Laura Giovanelli