Editing Workshop
Learn systematic strategies for revising, editing, and polishing your research paper to meet academic standards of clarity, precision, and correctness.
Learn
Effective editing transforms a rough draft into a polished paper. This lesson teaches you to approach revision systematically, addressing content, organization, style, and mechanics in separate passes.
The Three Levels of Revision
- Global Revision (Big Picture): Thesis clarity, argument structure, evidence sufficiency, logical flow
- Paragraph-Level Revision: Topic sentences, transitions, paragraph unity, evidence integration
- Sentence-Level Editing: Clarity, concision, grammar, punctuation, word choice
The ARMS Strategy for Revision
- Add - Insert missing information, examples, or analysis
- Remove - Delete redundant, irrelevant, or weak content
- Move - Reorganize for better logical flow
- Substitute - Replace weak words, vague phrases, or ineffective evidence
Common Issues in Academic Writing
- Wordiness: Eliminate filler phrases ("due to the fact that" becomes "because")
- Passive voice overuse: Prefer active constructions when possible
- Vague language: Replace general terms with specific, precise vocabulary
- Weak verbs: Choose strong, descriptive verbs over "to be" forms
- Unclear pronoun references: Ensure every pronoun has an obvious antecedent
Citation and Formatting Checklist
- Consistent citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago) throughout
- All sources cited in-text appear in Works Cited/References
- Proper formatting for direct quotes, block quotes, and paraphrases
- Page numbers, headers, and margins per style guide
Examples
Example 1: Eliminating Wordiness
Wordy: "In light of the fact that there is a significant amount of evidence that suggests that social media has negative effects on teenagers, it is the case that parents should monitor usage." (32 words)
Revised: "Because substantial evidence links social media to negative effects on teenagers, parents should monitor usage." (15 words)
Example 2: Strengthening Verbs
Weak: "The study is an indication of the need for further research."
Strong: "The study demonstrates the need for further research."
Example 3: Improving Transitions
Choppy: "Social media affects sleep. Screen time before bed disrupts melatonin production. Teenagers who use phones at night sleep less."
Connected: "Social media affects sleep primarily through its impact on circadian rhythms. Specifically, screen time before bed disrupts melatonin production, which explains why teenagers who use phones at night consistently report sleeping fewer hours."
Example 4: Clarifying Pronoun Reference
Unclear: "When researchers surveyed students about their teachers, they reported feeling overwhelmed." (Who is overwhelmed?)
Clear: "When researchers surveyed students about their teachers, the students reported feeling overwhelmed."
Practice
Apply these editing strategies to improve your research paper.
1. Read your entire draft aloud. Mark any sentences where you stumble or lose breath—these likely need revision for clarity or length.
2. Highlight every "to be" verb (is, are, was, were, been) in one paragraph. Revise at least half to use stronger, more descriptive verbs.
3. Find and revise three wordy phrases in your draft. Aim to cut each by at least 30% without losing meaning.
4. Check every pronoun in one section of your paper. Ensure each has a clear, unambiguous antecedent.
5. Create a reverse outline of your paper: write the main point of each paragraph. Evaluate whether the order is logical and arguments build effectively.
6. Examine your transitions. Does each paragraph connect logically to the previous one? Add or strengthen transitional phrases where needed.
7. Review your introduction and conclusion together. Does the conclusion fulfill the promise made in the introduction? Revise for consistency.
8. Check citation formatting: verify that every in-text citation matches an entry in your Works Cited or References page.
9. Identify your three most common grammatical errors (comma splices, run-ons, subject-verb agreement, etc.). Search your paper specifically for these issues.
10. Have a peer read your paper and summarize your argument in 2-3 sentences. If their summary differs from your intention, identify where communication broke down.
11. Check that every paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects to your thesis. Revise any that don't make this connection explicit.
12. Print your paper and edit by hand. Notice different issues than you do on screen. Mark at least ten improvements.
Check Your Understanding
Evaluate your editing readiness with these reflection questions.
- Why is it important to revise in multiple passes rather than trying to fix everything at once?
- How do you distinguish between revision (content/structure) and editing (style/mechanics)?
- What strategies help you identify issues in your own writing that you might overlook?
- How do you decide when a piece of writing is "done" and ready to submit?
- What role does peer feedback play in the revision process?
Next Steps
- Complete at least two full revision passes on your research paper
- Exchange papers with a peer for fresh-eyes feedback
- Use a grammar checker as a supplement (not replacement) for careful proofreading
- Continue to the final lesson: Unit Checkpoint