How to Edit Your Own College Paper

Writing is a process, and editing is just as much a part of what you write as getting out the words themselves. Keep in mind that editing means you're looking for big-picture issues, such as organization and flow, in addition to grammar and spelling mistakes. This article provides some tips to edit your own work.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A copy of your document
• A copy of your document
• A copy of your document

Outline After You Write

1. Begin with the first paragraph of your document. Summarize the paragraph in one-two sentences. Write your summary statement on a separate sheet of paper or in a new word processing document.
2. Complete Step 1 for each paragraph you have written.
3. Carefully read your completed list of summary statements. Look for overall organization, flow, logical gaps, and repetition.
4. Determine whether your document will be strengthened by changing the placement and substance of any statements. For instance, if you find a similar idea in two places, combine these two paragraphs into one and choose the best place for this new paragraph.
5. Finally, evaluate your statements in relation to the introduction and conclusion. Make sure you have accomplished what you set out to do.

Be An Outsider

6. Step back from your work and read the document as if you're not the writer or expert. Determine the main point(s) of the document and whether these points meet your goals for this piece of writing.
7. Examine the basic, unstated assumptions in the document. Evaluate whether they are logical, consistent, and supported throughout the writing.
8. Ask whether someone could come to a different conclusion with the same ideas and arguments that you have provided. If so, identify places where you can better explain your ideas or provide stronger evidence for them.

Go Backwards

9. Begin with the last sentence in the last paragraph of your document.
10. Read the sentence from beginning to end for grammar errors. Read the sentence again, but go from the end to the beginning to check for spelling errors.
11. Complete Step 2 for the rest of your document.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find it difficult to do this in two sentences, there is probably too much information in the paragraph. Re-read the paragraph to find a natural break.
• This can be time intensive but is useful for longer documents, such as research papers.
• Fresh eyes can create a fresh perspective. If you always write in one location, choose a new location when you begin editing. Let your writing sit for a day or two before you try to read it as an outsider.
• This technique is very narrow and works near the end of the editing process. Use it after editing the big ideas and organization of your document.
• This approach will not help you edit ideas, structure, and logic.