Excerpted and adapted from “Brilliant Revision
Worksheet”
 You
are about to put a lot of work into this
paper. Grumble silently.
 By
the time your paper gets to me, it
should be as near to perfection as you
can make it.
 Read
through the rubric and score
yourself (at the top of the draft itself)
against the each criterion.
 Review
your thesis. Give yourself
something to prove. If the thesis is
obvious, then there is no reason for the
reader to continue with the rest of the
paper.
 Underline
all literary devices explained
(i.e. setting, characterization, atmosphere,
structure, figurative language, etc.)
 Cross
 Cross
out the words “you” and “I.”
out all weak language like “I think”
or “I believe.”
 Read
through it again. Make sure all your
verbs are present tense.
 Eliminate
run on and fragment
sentences.
 Be
sure that “it’s” is used as “it is” and that
“its” shows possession.
 Be
sure that “there,” “their,” and “they’re”
are used correctly.
 Use
the author’s complete or last name
when you refer to him/her.
 Underline
the title of full-length works (if
this were typed, you’d italicize them).
 Put
the titles of short works in quotation
marks.
Silent time – if you are talking,
you’re not giving enough of your
attention to the work.


Write your name on the top of the paper next to a
number indicating which peer editor you are.
You may find it easier to read through once,
highlighting all the issues of the types you’re
looking for, and then making suggestions next to
those areas afterwards.

If you do highlight, try to use a different color for
each editor.

If you see any misspellings, circle them (regardless
of which editor you are).

Comments may be made directly on the author’s
paper.
 Look
for weak words that don’t embody the
idea. An outstanding paper has powerful
vocabulary that stimulates the reader and
conveys the intended meaning in an
interesting and natural way. Give
suggestions.
 Look
for weak sentences that don’t flow
well or are too long to make any sense. An
outstanding paper has an easy flow and
sentence sense that makes the text easy to
read aloud. Give suggestions.

Look for language or sentence structure
that is too informal for an academic
essay. Fix it.

Look for big statements that are not
supported. These statements should
either be cut or developed. Make
suggestions.


Look at the structure of the essay. Should
the paragraphs be switched around? The
piece should have a strong sense of
direction, balance, and flow. This is more
complicated than it sounds in this essay
that may use many different quotations.
They should be artfully woven together.
Look at the transition sentence at the
beginning of every body paragraph and
the conclusion. Does it link the two
paragraphs in a logical and fluent way?
Give suggestions.


Look at the introduction. It should be
inviting and should make a statement that
is beyond the obvious, that has to be
proven. Make some evaluative comments.
Look at the conclusion. It should be
satisfying and should not simply repeat
the introduction. Make it thoughtful and
leave the reader with a new idea to
ponder. Make some evaluative comments.

Read through your comments and
reflect:
• What you did well
• What you still need to improve on
 If
you need clarification from an editor, ask
quietly.
 Read
through the rubric and score yourself
again against the each criterion.
 How
will you craft a second draft to better
meet the requirements of the rubric?