In their seminal book, The Elements of Style[1], William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White acknowledge the need for revision in the writing process: “Few writers are so expert that they can produce what they are after on the first try. Quite often you will discover, on examining the completed work, that there are serious flaws in the arrangement of the material, calling for transpositions… do not be afraid to experiment with your text.”

In this section, we’ll learn about techniques for revision that will enable you to refine and improve your paper. Think of writing like creating a work of art—to produce a polished product, you’d create the initial piece and then revisit it to make adjustments and improvements, probably multiple times. Similarly, you are missing out on an important opportunity for improvement if you don’t take the time to revise your writing.

Revising for content begins when you have a draft. You could have a substantial draft, and you may be wondering how to make sure your ideas are solid, logical, and persuasive to your particular audience. Or, your draft may fall short of the assignment’s length expectations, and you may be wondering how to expand or develop your ideas. No matter where you are in the revision process, you will want to carefully consider the content, supporting evidence, and organization of your essay. Having an organized essay will help your reader follow the points you want to make.

In this section, you’ll learn to identify and evaluate different revision strategies for supporting and arranging ideas.