TIPS FOR REVISING AND EDITING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS
(Tricks to make your writing stronger)
Find and mark the thesis statement.
Find and mark the topic sentence for each paragraph.
Count the sentences in each paragraph and put the number in the margin. Are the body paragraphs close to equal length? Each needs to be at least half a page.
Find and circle every use of the words you, your, you’re, yours. Change these to either first or third person.
Find every use of the word they or them or their. Draw an arrow to the word it refers to. The two words need to be either both plural or both singular. If you use “they” or “them,” be sure the reader knows whom you are talking about.
Find every semicolon and make sure you have a complete sentence on BOTH sides. If you can’t use a period, you can’t use a semicolon.
Find all the apostrophes. The only apostrophes should be for possession, not for plurals or contractions. Do not use ANY contractions except in a direct quote.
NO questions! Doesn’t it irritate you when someone asks you a question and then doesn’t let you answer it? That’s what you are doing to the reader.
Find all the commas; identify which rule that comma fits. If you can’t find a rule that suits that comma, remove the comma.
No slang or casual language. Do not say “kids,” say “children.” For “guys” say “men”; for “okay” or “ok” use “good” or “alright.”
Do not use etc. or any slashes (he/she).
You can write in first person (I, me, we, us) if the professor permits, but don’t refer to yourself as the writer: “Now I will explain...” “As I said before…” “Let me sum up by saying…”
Watch for weak words, such as “really,” “stuff,” “very,” “things,” and substitute a more specific (not more complicated!) word.
Now print a copy of your essay and proofread it from the last sentence to the first (yes, BACKWARDS!). As you read, make corrections on the electronic version.
CHECK BACK OFTEN, AS PROFESSOR RISTER IS SURE TO FIND EVEN MORE THINGS THAT IRRITATE HER WHEN SHE IS GRADING ESSAYS! ;-D