The Revising Stage

Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson: ^{(Click here to read more)}

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to

1. describe the revising stage.

2. improve clarity, coherence, and flow in drafts.

3. use peer feedback and self-reflection to strengthen their writing.

The revising stage is the part of the writing process when you go back to your first draft and make big changes so your ideas are clearer and better organized for the reader (Dziak, 2024; Rea, 2024). At this point, writers reread their work, add or remove details, and sometimes move sentences or whole paragraphs to improve clarity, coherence, and flow (University of Kansas Writing Center, 2025; Grammarly, 2025). Revising is different from editing: revision focuses on the “big picture” meaning and structure, while editing and proofreading later focus on grammar, spelling, and small errors (George Mason University Writing Center, 2025). Research on writing instruction shows that explicitly teaching students how to plan, revise, and edit their texts leads to stronger writing, especially in the middle and high school years (Graham & Perin, 2007).

LESSON ON REVISING: ^{(Click here to read more)}

1. Rereading for Clarity
Writers read their draft again to see if the main idea is clear and easy for a reader to understand.

2. Adding and Improving Details
Writers add missing information, stronger examples, and clearer explanations to make their ideas more complete.

3. Reordering Ideas and Paragraphs
Sentences and paragraphs are moved, combined, or split so the writing has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

4. Strengthening Connections (Transitions)
Writers use transition words and phrases to connect ideas so the writing flows smoothly from one point to the next.

5. Using Feedback to Make Changes
Writers use checklists, peer comments, and read-alouds to spot confusing parts and revise them so the message is stronger.