Mansfield Library Subject Guides
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Successful Researching and Writing:
Revision Checklist
Use this checklist as a way to start your revisions for your paper. Your answers to these questions will help point you to the possible problems in your paper. Editing is often confused for revision. This checklist will help you look beyond simple grammar and spell checks and provide a foundation for a clear and methodical process for revision.
Introduction and Thesis
- Can you identify your thesis sentence(s)? Does your statement give
a clear idea of what your paper is about?
- Does the thesis statement focus your paper and set the limits of
your topic?
- Does the introduction give sufficient background and general discussion
to lead to your thesis statement without including unnecessary filler?
- Does the introduction point to the main topics of your essay in
a clear and concise manner?
- Does the introduction engage the reader?
Conclusion
- Does your conclusion address your thesis statement and the main
points of your paper?
- Does your conclusion tie the supporting details of your paper together?
- Does your conclusion furnish a satisfactory closure to your paper?
Overall Organization
- Do the paragraphs each have a clear and specific topic that addresses
your thesis statement in some way?
- Does each paragraph keep to its specific topic?
- Does the paper have a clear purpose (i.e. to inform, persuade, argue,
demonstrate, explain, etc.)?
- Do the paragraphs follow a logical order? Are the ideas organized
sensibly in the flow of the body paragraphs?
- Do the supporting sentences of your body paragraphs follow a logical
order?
- Do the paragraphs include smooth transitions that both close the specific topic of the previous paragraph and introduce the ideas of the next paragraph?
Content and Style
- Does your paper fit the assignment given to you?
- Does your paper have a specific audience for its reader?
- Are the language, content and tone of your paper appropriate for
the assignment and audience?
- Does the paper exert a specific opinion of or viewpoint on the information
given?
- Have you used relevant research, evidence and examples to support
your main ideas? Are the research, evidence and examples meaningful
to your paper?
- Is your paper too vague or confusing? Do you have sufficient information
and analysis to adequately develop your ideas?
- Is your paper too wordy or needlessly complex? Could you write any
of your sentences more concisely without losing any meaning?
- Are the language and information used in your paper not only clear,
but also convincing?
- Does your paper use a variety of diction, sentence structure and rhythm to foster diversity and interest?
Resources
- Have you evaluated your sources to make sure they are credible?
- Have you included all of the resources you have used in your paper
in your bibliography?
- Are all quotations used in your paper recorded exactly and accurately
cited parenthetically in-text or in a footnote?
- Are paraphrased material and borrowed ideas and facts accurately
cited parenthetically in-text or in footnotes?
- Do the in-text citations, footnotes and/or bibliography follow a
consistent and correct citation form? You can check citation style
guides online through the Library’s Literature Cited page at:
Subject Guide: Literature Cited
| Mansfield Library | The University of Montana-Missoula.
- Is the research in your paper accurate, complete and clear of an
uneducated bias?
- Have you provided a context and interpretation for your reported information?
Proofreading
- Is your paper formatted correctly according to your assignment guidelines?
- Have you performed a computer and manual spell check on your paper?
- Do you have any sentence fragments or run-on sentences?
- Do your pronouns, subjects and verbs agree in each sentence and
do they follow a parallel structure (i.e. all have the same form of
a verb, running, walking, etc.)?
- Are your punctuation and capitalization correct throughout your
paper?
- Does your paper have more than a minimal, acceptable use of the passive voice?
Finally, read your paper aloud. Do you notice anything unusual, awkward
or confusing? Mark these spots to take a closer look at these sentences,
paragraphs or words. Try to reword them for clarity and correctness.
23 July 2004