The Writing Process (Continued)
Revising
Think of the word "revise." Re means " again," while vise means vision. You are literally "re-visioning" the essay: looking at it with fresh eyes. Some people like to let the essay sit a few hours—or even a few days—before getting to this stage. Examine the organization: does it work? Examine the thesis: is it strong? Examine the topic sentences: do they prove the thesis by answering "why"? Look at the big picture—how the essay is put together and if you've proved your point with enough examples and support. This is the most difficult and time consuming stage. People often feel frustrated and think that it will never be finished. Like many things in life—writing is never perfect or complete. Just as training in a sport or training for a job, there is always something to learn. Don't be frustrated by this step. Go through the essay, look at it from as many angles as you can, and repeat the steps as needed until either time runs out or you're satisfied! An old adage that many writers adopt is "Writing is never finished; it's just due!"