critical essay writing
The process of revising your writing includes knowing where to focus your revision, and the points in the process to do so in order to have the greatest effect. Generally, you should make global revisions first, as these affect the whole piece. Make stylistic revisions once global revisions are complete.
Global Revisions
When making global revisions to your writing, you are revising for purpose, focus, organization, and support.
Purpose
Review what your purpose was in composing this piece. Were you trying to inform your reader, persuade your reader, entertain your reader, or was there another purpose?
Read your writing again to determine if that purpose is clear. Should you add anything to reinforce it? If it is an essay, does your thesis clearly establish this purpose? If it is a narrative, do you need to add or repeat any elements to reinforce your purpose?
Focus
On what do you wish to focus the content of your essay or narrative?
If you wrote an essay, underline your thesis. Then, read through the content of your essay with this thesis in mind. Does everything in your essay connect back to your thesis? If not, either remove unnecessary material or revise to connect more clearly with your thesis.
If you wrote a narrative, consider the main idea of the story you are telling. Then, read through your story with that main idea in mind. Does everything in your narrative connect back to that main idea? If not, either remove unnecessary material or revise to connect more clearly with your main idea.
Organization
Review your writing, paying particular attention to the way you have organized the main ideas in your essay or narrative.
If writing an essay, consider the following:
Are the points and claims organized in a way that most benefits the purpose you are trying to achieve?
Have you placed the information that supports your ideas near the idea to which it relates?
Have you smoothly connected the sections of your essay?
Are separate ideas distinct in different sections or paragraphs of your essay?
Are your main ideas clear to the audience? If not, how might you establish them more clearly? Could they be written as topic sentences in separate paragraphs?
Do you transition well from one idea to the next? Should you include clear signal words? (e.g., In addition to. . ., Also. . .)
If writing a narrative, consider the following:
Is your story’s plot structure the most effective way to tell your story? Have you begun with events that will engage your reader and built to a climax in an appropriate place?
Have you smoothly connected the different parts of your story? Do you transition well between events? Should you include clear signal words? (e.g., After that. . ., Next. . .)
Are separate events distinct in different sections or paragraphs of your narrative?
Have you provided an effective conclusion or ending to wrap up the main ideas of your essay or the events of your narrative?
Support
Review your writing and consider how you have supported or developed your main ideas.
If writing an essay, consider the following:
Do you offer support for each assertion you make in your essay?
Have you incorporated evidence to support your claims?
Do you need to add any support in the form of specific evidence or quoted material?
Have you appropriately documented any information you took from other sources?
Have you researched the accuracy of your claims to ensure they are correct?
If writing a narrative, consider the following:
Do you offer sensory details to develop the events of your story?
Have you fully developed all aspects of your characters (physical appearance, thoughts, feelings, speech, actions, other characters’ reactions)?
Do you consider the narrative point of view in how you tell events of the story?
Have you provided background explanation or flashback when necessary to add context?
Stylistic Revisions
When making stylistic revisions to your writing, you are revising for sentence structure, word choice, grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling.
Sentence Structure
Read through the first few words of each of your sentences. Do they begin in the same way, or do you have variety in your sentence beginnings? If you do not have variety in your sentences, can you restructure them to begin them in different ways?
Read through your sentences and pay attention to length. Do your sentences vary in length, with some short and some long? If not, how might you restructure your sentences to vary the length?
If your sentences seem long, consider whether you might condense phrases or combine sentences to prevent wordiness.
Word Choice
Read through your essay or narrative and look for any places where you might have repeated words or description. If you have overused certain words or phrases, use a thesaurus to replace some repeated use of the words.
Are the words and phrases you have chosen appropriate to your audience and purpose? Have you avoided unfamiliar words, slang, or jargon (unless necessary to your purpose)?
Grammar, Usage, Punctuation, and Spelling
Read through your sentences paying particular attention to the verbs:
Is your verb tense consistent throughout?
Do the verbs agree with their subjects?
Are you using active, precise, and interesting verbs?
Locate the pronouns in your writing. Are their antecedents clear, and do they agree with their antecedents?
Read your essay or narrative out loud to listen for potential errors in grammar or usage. You might also consider recording your reading or having someone else read it to you.
Ask a trusted proofreader to review your writing for errors in grammar, usage, spelling, or punctuation.
Write out each sentence and read separately to better focus your revisions of grammar, usage, and punctuation.
Use a grammar-checking and spell-checking tool to review your writing as well.
By focusing on global revisions first, such as purpose, focus, organization, and support, you can ensure that your writing is clear, effective, and cohesive. Once these global revisions are complete, stylistic revisions can then be made to enhance the overall quality of your writing. This includes considerations of sentence structure, word choice, grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling.
In terms of sentence structure, it is important to vary the beginnings and lengths of your sentences to create flow and interest for the reader. By avoiding repetitive phrases and choosing precise and appropriate words, you can enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing. Additionally, paying attention to grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling ensures that your writing is error-free and easy to understand.
Overall, the process of revising your writing is essential in producing a high-quality piece of work. By following these guidelines and taking the time to carefully review and revise your writing, you can improve the overall coherence, clarity, and impact of your writing. Ultimately, the key to successful critical essay writing lies in the meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful consideration of each element of your writing.