Introducing the revisions. For the second part of this final exam, you may revise and resubmit any of your major papers and reflections. You may also redo any chapter quizzes. Keep in mind that I am looking for meaningful, reflective revision.

I strongly discourage you from merely and only editing and proofreading the paper for grammar and mechanics. Instead, I am much more interested in your understanding of effective introductions, discussion sections, and conclusions, and I am interested in seeing how your writing improved after four months of instruction on development, organization, and style.

Keep in mind that I make no guarantees if and how much a paper’s grade will improve; however, a paper’s grade will never be lowered. If you chose to resubmit any assignments, please resubmit them to their original dropboxes by the end of the final exam period.

Revising your papers. Revision is one of the essential parts of the writing process; however, too often, we only think of revision as adding a few commas and correcting a couple of spelling errors. Correcting typographical errors is proofreading; it is not revision.

Revision is, instead, a collaborative effort that works best through open-ended questions and reflective responses to feedback. Effective revision requires us to think critically and read carefully. It requires that we make substantial and meaningful changes to our text, and, revision takes time, practice, and planning.

The act of revision is more than a part of the writing process. Revision is an attitude that you develop when you engage with your text. By responding to feedback and participating in the writing process, your best work is realized. Therefore, for this unit, you will revise one of your previous assignments and produce a brief cover letter outlining your revision process.

Here are some tips and suggestions for successful revision:

Before you begin revising:

Take time to reflect on your instructor’s feedback. Do you agree with their observations? In what ways? Do you disagree? How so?
Paraphrase your instructor’s feedback. What is the main point that he/she made regarding your text? What feedback back did your instructor give you in class? On the final submission? How did you consider those comments when revising your text?
Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses. If you think you are a fantastic writer but your instructor sees room for improvement, do not indulge in scapegoating. The focus instead on what you can do to improve your texts and grow as a writer.

During the revision process:
- Don’t be self-deprecating. The time you spend thinking and talking about how bad your writing is, the less time you are spending making it better. If you recognize that your writing needs revision, say so, speculate on the possible reasons why, and outline a plan to make it better.
- Ask questions. If you are confused by your instructor’s comments or need further clarification, visit with your instructor and ask. When you ask questions, practice the argument description strategies that you learned earlier in the semester. Don’t merely ask: “How do I make this paper better?” Or, “what can I do to make a better grade?” Instead, consider what you understand the comment to mean and then identify the point at which it breaks down for you.
- Solicit feedback. Make an appointment with your instructor during office hours and bring in revised versions of your assignments to get additional feedback. Visit your on-campus writing center and work with a writing tutor to improve your writing. And, make friends with your classmates and start your writing community. Share your drafts with each other and ask for suggestions and recommendations. Collaborate to graduate!

You should also review the suggestions offered here when revising: Writing Toolkit: Revising Your Work.