Steps for Revising a Paper Scientific Edition By

Steps for Revising a Paper: Scientific Edition By Julia Daley

Step 1 Deconstruct the prompt In your own words, what is the prompt asking you to do? In your own words, what are the assignment requirements? If you have any questions, contact the instructor ASAP!

Step 2 Look at the rubric (if one is available) If not, skip to Step 3 If yes, check to see how the assignment will be graded What are the areas the instructor cares about most? What areas, the least?

Step 3 Read through the paper once, silently Keep the prompt (and rubric) in mind Check to make sure that all the required elements are present in the paper This will help you keep the “big picture” of the paper in mind.

Before going further… Some things to keep in mind while reading each section: Look at the paragraphs Do the paragraphs contain a single main idea? Do the paragraphs clearly relate to the needs of each section? Are there transitions between paragraphs so that ideas flow clearly from one to the next? Look at any evidence used Is it clearly integrated into the writing (quoted/summarized/paraphrased)? Are citations included with each piece of evidence used? Not all sections mentioned in the following steps may be relevant to your particular assignment. Skip / adjust your process as needed!

Step 4 Look at the Abstract Does it… Meet the word count (typically between 150 and 250 words)? Summarize all of the main points of the paper in a concise way? Topic Research Gap Methods Results Conclusions Include keywords?

Step 5 Look at the Introduction / Background / Review of the Literature Does it… Review relevant literature, preparing the reader for the rest of the paper? Describe Clearly List a research gap, which the paper aims to fill? state the purpose of the paper? all of the research questions the paper aims to answer? Define any important terminology in a clear and concise way?

Step 6 Look Do at the Methods / Procedures they… Clearly describe all materials and/or participants included in the study, so that someone could replicate it? Describe all steps taken in the study with clear detail, so that someone could replicate it? Indicate how the study was designed, so that someone could replicate it? Describe all steps for conducting any analyses, so that someone could replicate it?

Step 7 Look Do at the Results they… Show the findings for each research question? Note: findings outside of the initial research questions are typically considered part of a “post-hoc analysis” Describe the data in prose? Describe the data using charts, tables, and/or figures? Are the charts/tables/figures clearly labeled and designed for easy understanding?

Step 8 Look at the Discussion Does it… Summarize the key findings from the results using clear prose? Describe anything that is particularly noteworthy/interesting about the findings? Indicate if research questions were answered, and to what degree? Describe the significance of any results? Connect the findings from the results of other research studies in the field? Describe any limitations to the study design, and how they might be addressed in future research?

Step 9 Look at the Conclusion Does it… Restate the major findings of the study in a clear way? Indicate whether the research questions were answered in a satisfactory way? Discuss Make the larger implications of the findings? any suggestions for future action based on the findings?

Step 10 Look Do at the References / Works Cited they… Include all sources referenced in the body of the essay? all of the information necessary for finding these sources?

Step 11 Look Do at the Appendices they… Contain relevant information that could help a reader more fully understand the studies? Contain information that would not belong in any other section of the paper? Contain materials used in the study, to allow for easy replication?

Step 12 Check for syntax, grammar, and usage errors Are any of these errors systemic? Do these errors affect the clear communication of ideas? Typical syntax errors: Run-on sentences Comma splices / missing commas Sentence fragments Typical grammatical errors: Subject/verb agreement Count / Non-count nouns Typical usage errors: Wrong words (aloud vs. allowed, lose vs. loose, effect vs. affect, etc.

Step 13 Look at the paper design Is it… Formatted Check Check Check Are properly? (APA/MLA/Chicago/etc. ) the the the header footers title page section headers page numbers spacing font citations charts / figures / tables the paragraphs clearly delineated?

Step 14 Continue revising for these changes!