Revision Phase In Argumentative Essays - What A Writer Should Do

The revision phase of writing an argumentative essay is a crucial stage where the writer refines and polishes their work to ensure it effectively communicates their argument. It's a time for critical self-assessment, where the essay is scrutinized for clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness. During this phase, a writer should focus on various aspects of the essay, from the strength of the argument to the style and tone used. Therefore, the most fitting answer to the question, 'During the revision phase for an argumentative essay, a writer should...' encompasses a range of activities aimed at enhancing the essay's overall quality and impact. Let's explore the key areas a writer should address during the revision process to craft a compelling and well-argued essay. The revision phase goes beyond simply correcting grammar and spelling errors; it involves a deep dive into the essay's structure, content, and argumentation. This is the stage where the writer ensures that the essay not only presents a clear argument but also supports it with credible evidence, maintains a consistent tone, and engages the reader effectively. Ignoring the revision phase can lead to a poorly constructed essay that fails to convince the audience or achieve its intended purpose. Therefore, understanding the importance of revision and knowing what to focus on during this phase is crucial for any writer aiming to produce high-quality argumentative essays. This article will delve into the specific tasks a writer should undertake during the revision phase, providing a comprehensive guide to refining an argumentative essay and maximizing its impact. From strengthening the argument to perfecting the style and tone, each aspect of revision plays a vital role in the final product. By mastering the art of revision, writers can transform their essays from drafts into polished pieces that effectively communicate their ideas and persuade their readers. Effective revision requires a critical eye and a willingness to make significant changes to the essay.

A. Create a Clear Argument

Creating a clear argument is undeniably a vital aspect of writing an argumentative essay. However, it's essential to understand that the revision phase isn't the initial stage for argument creation. Typically, the core argument should be established during the planning and drafting stages. The revision phase, in this context, becomes an opportunity to refine and strengthen the already existing argument. It's about ensuring the argument is not only clear but also compelling, logically sound, and effectively presented to the reader. This involves revisiting the thesis statement, which serves as the backbone of the entire essay, and ensuring it accurately reflects the writer's stance on the issue. A strong thesis statement is specific, debatable, and provides a roadmap for the essay's arguments. During revision, the writer should ask themselves: Is the thesis statement clear and concise? Does it make a strong claim? Does it effectively signal the essay's purpose and direction? Furthermore, the clarity of the argument extends beyond the thesis statement. Each supporting point and piece of evidence must directly relate to and reinforce the main argument. The revision phase allows the writer to examine each paragraph and section of the essay, ensuring that they contribute to the overall argument. If a point seems tangential or weakly connected, it may need to be revised, strengthened, or even removed. The logical flow of the argument is also a critical consideration. Are the points presented in a logical order that builds upon each other? Does the essay transition smoothly between ideas? A well-structured argument is easier for the reader to follow and more likely to be persuasive. Revision is the time to reorganize paragraphs, add transitions, and clarify the connections between different parts of the argument. In addition to the internal coherence of the argument, the writer should also consider the audience. Is the argument presented in a way that is accessible and persuasive to the intended readers? What are their likely biases and counterarguments, and how can the essay address them effectively? Revision may involve tailoring the language, evidence, and tone to better resonate with the target audience. Ultimately, creating a clear argument during the revision phase is about taking a step back and evaluating the essay as a whole. It's about ensuring that the argument is not only present but also presented in the most effective and persuasive way possible. This involves refining the thesis statement, strengthening supporting points, improving logical flow, and considering the audience.

B. Check the Style and Tone

Checking the style and tone is a paramount task during the revision phase of an argumentative essay. The style refers to the overall manner in which the essay is written, encompassing elements such as sentence structure, word choice, and the use of rhetorical devices. Tone, on the other hand, pertains to the writer's attitude towards the subject matter and the audience. A consistent and appropriate style and tone are crucial for conveying the argument effectively and persuading the reader. During the revision phase, the writer should meticulously examine the essay's style to ensure it is clear, concise, and engaging. Overly complex sentences or jargon-laden language can obscure the argument and alienate the reader. Therefore, simplifying sentence structures, choosing precise and accessible language, and eliminating unnecessary wordiness are key aspects of style revision. The use of rhetorical devices, such as metaphors, similes, and analogies, can enhance the essay's impact and make the argument more memorable. However, these devices should be used judiciously and appropriately, avoiding clichés or overly flowery language that can distract from the argument. The tone of the essay is equally important. In an argumentative essay, the tone should generally be assertive yet respectful, confident yet reasonable. A writer should avoid sounding overly aggressive, sarcastic, or condescending, as this can undermine their credibility and alienate the reader. The tone should also be consistent throughout the essay. Shifting abruptly between formal and informal language, or between objective and emotional appeals, can confuse the reader and weaken the argument. Revision is the time to ensure that the tone aligns with the essay's purpose and audience. This may involve adjusting word choices, refining sentence structures, and modifying the overall voice of the essay. The writer should also be mindful of potential biases or assumptions that may be reflected in their tone. It's important to present the argument in a fair and balanced manner, acknowledging opposing viewpoints and avoiding inflammatory language. Checking the style and tone also involves ensuring that the essay adheres to the conventions of academic writing. This includes proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and citation style. While these aspects may have been addressed during the editing phase, revision provides an opportunity to double-check for any errors or inconsistencies. A well-written essay with a polished style and tone demonstrates the writer's credibility and professionalism, making the argument more persuasive. Ultimately, checking the style and tone during the revision phase is about refining the essay's voice and ensuring that it effectively communicates the argument to the intended audience. It's about striking the right balance between clarity, conciseness, and engagement, and maintaining a tone that is both persuasive and respectful.

C. Write a Strong Conclusion

Writing a strong conclusion is a critical element of the revision phase for an argumentative essay. The conclusion is the final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the reader and reinforce the essay's main argument. It's not simply a summary of what has already been said; rather, it's a chance to synthesize the key points, reiterate the thesis statement in a new and compelling way, and provide a sense of closure. A weak conclusion can undermine the effectiveness of an otherwise well-written essay, leaving the reader feeling unsatisfied or unconvinced. During the revision phase, the writer should carefully evaluate the conclusion to ensure it achieves its intended purpose. The conclusion should begin by restating the thesis statement, but not in a verbatim repetition of the introduction. Instead, the thesis should be rephrased in light of the arguments and evidence presented in the essay. This demonstrates that the writer has successfully supported their claim and that the conclusion is a natural culmination of the essay's development. Following the restatement of the thesis, the conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay. This is not a detailed recounting of every argument and piece of evidence, but rather a concise overview of the key supporting points. The goal is to remind the reader of the essay's main arguments and how they collectively support the thesis. The conclusion should also provide a sense of closure. This can be achieved by connecting the essay's argument to a broader context, discussing the implications of the argument, or suggesting further research or action. The conclusion should leave the reader with a clear understanding of the essay's significance and its relevance to the wider world. A strong conclusion avoids introducing new information or arguments. The conclusion is not the place to present new evidence or raise new questions. Instead, it should focus on synthesizing and reinforcing what has already been presented. The tone of the conclusion is also important. It should be confident and assertive, reflecting the writer's conviction in their argument. However, it should also be respectful and avoid sounding overly dogmatic or dismissive of opposing viewpoints. A well-crafted conclusion leaves the reader with a positive impression of the essay and the writer's credibility. In addition to the content of the conclusion, the writer should also pay attention to its length and structure. A conclusion that is too short may feel abrupt or incomplete, while a conclusion that is too long may become repetitive or lose the reader's attention. The conclusion should be proportionate to the length of the essay and should flow smoothly from the preceding paragraphs. Ultimately, writing a strong conclusion during the revision phase is about crafting a memorable and impactful ending to the essay. It's about synthesizing the key points, reiterating the thesis, providing a sense of closure, and leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the essay's argument and significance.

D. Search for Facts and Evidence

Searching for facts and evidence is a fundamental part of the argumentative essay writing process, but it's primarily associated with the earlier stages of planning and drafting rather than the revision phase. While some minor fact-checking or evidence refinement might occur during revision, the bulk of research and evidence gathering should ideally be completed before the essay reaches this stage. The revision phase is more about evaluating and refining the existing evidence, ensuring it is used effectively to support the argument, and addressing any gaps or weaknesses that may have been identified. During the planning and drafting stages, the writer should conduct thorough research to gather credible and relevant evidence to support their claims. This may involve consulting academic databases, scholarly articles, reputable websites, and other sources of information. The evidence should be carefully selected to ensure it is accurate, reliable, and directly relevant to the argument. The writer should also consider the perspective of their audience and choose evidence that is likely to be persuasive and convincing. Once the evidence has been gathered, it should be properly cited to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original sources. Different citation styles may be used depending on the discipline or the specific requirements of the assignment. During the revision phase, the writer should review the evidence to ensure it is still accurate and relevant. If new information has emerged since the initial research was conducted, it may be necessary to update the evidence or revise the argument accordingly. The writer should also check the citations to ensure they are complete and accurate. However, the primary focus of the revision phase is on how the evidence is used, rather than on searching for new evidence. The writer should evaluate whether the evidence is presented clearly and effectively, and whether it is integrated smoothly into the essay's argument. This may involve rephrasing sentences, adding explanations, or reorganizing paragraphs to make the connections between the evidence and the argument more explicit. The writer should also consider whether the evidence is sufficient to support the claims being made. If there are any gaps or weaknesses in the evidence, the writer may need to conduct additional research or revise the argument. However, this should be a relatively minor task compared to the initial research phase. In some cases, the writer may discover during revision that a particular piece of evidence is not as strong as they initially thought, or that it is not directly relevant to the argument. In these cases, the evidence may need to be removed or replaced. Ultimately, while some fact-checking and evidence refinement may occur during the revision phase, the primary focus should be on evaluating and strengthening the existing evidence, rather than conducting extensive new research.

During the revision phase for an argumentative essay, a writer should primarily focus on B. check the style and tone. While creating a clear argument, writing a strong conclusion, and searching for facts and evidence are all important aspects of essay writing, they are typically emphasized in the earlier stages of the writing process. The revision phase is the perfect opportunity to fine-tune the essay's voice and ensure it effectively communicates the intended message to the audience.