Excelsior Online Writing Lab

The first step in the revision process is to focus on the big picture. You can use some or all of the following questions as a guide:

• Do you have a clear thesis? Do you know what idea or perspective you want your reader to understand upon reading your essay?
• Is your essay well organized? Is there more than one story.
• Is each paragraph a building block in your essay: does each explain or support your thesis?
•  Do parts need to be moved?
• Do you fully explain and illustrate the main ideas of your paper?
• Does your introduction grab the reader’s interest?
• Does your conclusion leave the reader understanding your point of view?
• What is the strength of your paper? What is its weakness?

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