Self-Revision Checklist
Directions: After you finish typing your work, use the following checklist as a guide to revise and evaluate your writing. Be sure to correct any mistakes. Remember, your final draft should be about a page in length.
Ideas and Content
1. My ideas are clear and focused.
2. I give enough thoughtful, insightful, and supporting details.
3. The topic makes a point or tells a story and the details support it.
Organization
1. My paper has a main idea.
2. Paragraphs only talk about one idea.
3. My paper has a strong, creative beginning.
4. My ending is well thought out and makes an impact on the reader.
5. My paper doesn’t jump around. It is easy to follow, has a
compelling order, natural patterns, and is sequenced properly.
6. The transitions between sentences and paragraphs are smooth.
Voice
1. This paper sounds like me.
2. This paper sounds like I care about the topic.
3. This paper is lively or exciting, and is perhaps a little different from everyone else’s paper.
4. I’ve been honest in expressing myself.
Word Choice
1. I chose accurate, strong, specific words.
2. My words are descriptive and paint a picture.
3. I tried to use active verbs, when possible.
4. I used specific verbs, specific nouns, and chose adjectives appropriate for the noun and the situation.
5. I vary my word choice and use elevated vocabulary when appropriate.
Conventions
1. I checked my spelling.
2. I checked my capitals, especially those that I had questions about.
3. I checked my verb tenses and made sure I stayed consistent and used the correct tenses, and subject/verb agreement.
Sentence Structure
1. Sentences are smooth and easy to read.
2. I fixed my choppy sentences.
- I have some long sentences and some short sentences to make my paper interesting.
Writing Errors to Avoid
The following sets of words are often misused. Be sure you know the meaning of each and use them correctly. If you are in doubt, it is best to look up the definition of the word.
to, too, two
its, it’s
your, you’re
our, are
there, their, they’re
through, threw
were, where, wear
know, no, now
then, than
accept, except
weather, whether
whose, who’s
loose, lose
cause, because
The following words and usages are incorrect. If you use them, use only the correct form found in the parenthesis.
a lot (a lot)
eachother (each other)
gonna (going to)
kinda, sorta (kind of sort of)
could of, should of, would of (could have, would have, should have)