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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

How Do I Revise?

After you have taken a break from your essay, try these strategies:

  • Re-read the draft in a quiet place so you can concentrate.

  • Mark anything that you might want to change without actually changing anything.

  • Focus on reducing unnecessary (off-topic) information and unnecessary (redundant) words.

  • Jot down notes (in the margin or on a separate sheet of paper) on questions, comments, and new ideas you may have.

  • Try breaking the writing up into logical sections (if it has not been broken up already); this will organize both the revising and the editing.

Ask yourself:

  • What is my main point?

  • Summarize your main point, and the supporting points with it.

  • Distance yourself from the text. Does it make sense? Do you see what the point is?

    • Who are my readers, and what is my purpose?

    • Identify who you are writing for and why you are writing.

      • Is my argument supported?

      • Make sure that your argument is well-supported with facts, quotations, etc.

      • Your argument should be strong and cohesive.

      • Your original thesis statement should still make sense with your argument.

        • Do I really need to include this?

        • Eliminate redundancies and wordy sentences.

        • Look for vague and unsupported ideas and remove them (or clarify and support them).

        • Cut out unnecessary language: short and sweet!

          • Is my grammar correct?

          • Look for grammar mistakes and correct them

Once you have critically analyzed your own essay (both the writing and argument), go back to the computer and apply your revisions. Transfer the changes you have noted on paper to the computer. Do not forget to save it as a new version with a new name. That way, you still have the original in case you change your mind and need to retrieve ideas.

Tip: 

Sometimes professors will ask for rough drafts and notes to be handed in with the final version. You may also be asked for rough drafts and notes if there is any question of plagiarism or if you choose not to use Turnitin.com. So keep each draft in a separate document on your computer or print out each draft and keep them in the same folder for each assignment.

Review the document on screen. Look to expand, explain, summarize or condense your writing as necessary.