Before you are ready to finalize your draft, you should take it through the steps of revising, editing, and proofreading.  Revising means improving the entire paper as a whole, looking for major areas of change.  Editing means preparing the final version for typing by checking style, wording, and grammar.  Proofreading means examining the final manuscript after typing to spot any last minute errors.  All three steps are important.

     Revising:  Read your draft over and examines it as a whole.  Does it flow smoothly and follow your plan point by point?  Are the most important ideas emphasized?  Have you combined your own ideas and insight with support from authoritative sources? Are you satisfied that this paper has achieved a specific purpose for a specific audience?  Use this checklist for revising:

 1.  Is there a clearly stated thesis?
 2.  Is there clear direction and development?
 3.   Is there a clear sequence of major statements?
 4.   Is there appropriate and effective evidence to support your key ideas?
 5.  Are there transitions to move the reader effectively from one block of material to another?
 6.  Is there a conclusion that is drawn from the evidence and evolves logically from the introduction and body?
     (Adapted from Lester, Writing Research Papers  122)

    Editing:  Editing is the fine-tuning of the paper, checking it paragraph by paragraph and sentence by sentence and word by word.  Use this checklist for editing:

1. Does each paragraph logically develop the central idea?  Are any paragraphs not needed?
2. Should any paragraph be combined with others?  Should any paragraph be split?
3. Study the sentences.  Are they worded effectively?  Can you reword for conciseness or clarity?   Can you change passive verbs ("to be") to active verbs?
4. Study the quotations and paraphrases.  Do they flow smoothly within your own text?
5. Check individual words for effectiveness and appropriateness.  Be clear. Choose the best vocabulary.  Avoid slang.
6. Is correct format followed for documentation -- either Modern Language Association or one of your teacher's choosing?
7. Have you followed all format requirements -- heading, margins, works cited, typing specifications -- given by your teacher?
8. Is the paper correct in spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and usage?

       Proofreading:  Proofread your typed copy carefully.  Mechanical and careless errors will seriously detract from your credibility as an author.  If someone else types your paper, you are still responsible for errors.  If you word process your paper, keep proofreading until your paper is error free.