The Writing Center's Revision Checklist
and
Editing Guidelines

Revision Checklist:
 
 

  1. Have the needs of the audience been kept in mind?

    2.  

     

  2. Have the ideas been adequately developed?

    3.  

     

  3. Are all paragraphs unified and coherent?

    4.  

     

  4. Is there an inherent logical order evident in the placement of each paragraph? 
  5. Do the paragraphs flow smoothly from one to another?

    6.  

     

  6. Does each paragraph serve a logical purpose? 
  7. Could any of the sentences be written more concisely without losing meaning? 
  8. Are the sentences clear and complete? 
  9. Are there sentences that announce what you are going to say or that sum up what have already said, and therefore could be cut?

    10.  

     

  10. Is the piece of writing fair to the subject and to the reader?

    11.  

     

Editing Guidelines:
 
 
  1. Minimal use of passive voice

    2.  

     

  2. Use of specific details

    3.  

     

  3. Consistency of verb tense

    4.  

     

  4. Minimal use of forms of "to be"

    5.  

     

  5. Varied sentence structure, rhythm, and length

    6.  

     

  6. Word choice: clear, effective, concise

    7.  

     

  7. Grammar: pronoun-antecedent agreement, subject-verb agreement, sentence fragments/run-ons

    8.  

     

  8. Spelling

    9.  

     

  9. Punctuation: comma splices, quotations, titles

    10.  

     


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