What is Structured Revision?

Structured revision is an analytical approach to improving a draft by prioritizing revisions based on Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs). Also referred to as global and local concerns, these terms describe the different levels at which writers evaluate and revise their work.

• Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) focus on the big picture: rhetorical purpose, audience, genre, organization, and development.
• Lower Order Concerns (LOCs) focus on sentence-level clarity and correctness: grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word choice.

Writers often move between these levels as they revise, but structured revision encourages beginning with HOCs—since surface-level edits (LOCs) are ineffective if the foundational structure of the document is flawed.

Understanding Higher Order Concerns (HOCs)

Before making detailed edits, clarify your document’s rhetorical situation. Rhetorical reasoning forms the foundation of global revision and shapes every decision you make as you revise.

Rhetorical Reasoning: Foundation of Global Revision

Every writing situation involves dynamic, social, and rhetorical factors:

• Audience: Identify your readers. What expectations and conventions guide them?
• Purpose: Clearly articulate your aim—are you informing, persuading, analyzing, or proposing?
• Topic and Context: Define your thesis, research question, or central problem. Identify the setting (personal, academic, professional, or research).

Understanding these factors helps align your content, tone, and structure with your audience’s needs and expectations.

Examples of Audience Expectations:

• Personal settings: sincerity, authenticity, trustworthiness
• Professional settings: clarity, efficiency, actionable recommendations
• Academic settings: critical thinking, information literacy, accurate citations

Step-by-Step Structured Revision Process

Step 1: Inspect the Document at the Global Level (HOC)

Once you’ve clarified the rhetorical situation, assess the document’s overall structure and logic.

Focus on:

• Top-level sections: Title Page, Table of Contents, Abstract, Problem Statement, Methods, Results, Recommendations, Visuals, References, Executive Summary, Call to Action
• Coherence: Logical flow, transitions, and clear argumentation
• Alignment: Purpose and audience expectations
• Organization: Clear headings, logical sequencing, balanced content development

At a glance, ask:

• Can readers quickly grasp the document’s purpose and key topics?
• Does the organizational scheme clearly answer the following questions:
  • What is this document about?
  • What problem or need is addressed?
  • What prompted this report or document?
  • Where can readers find answers to expected questions?

Global-Level Issues to Identify:

Rhetorical Problems:

• Is the central problem clearly stated and solvable with your plan?
• Does the argument effectively address the primary audience?
• Is the argument clear, convincing, well-structured, and respectful?

Structural Problems:

• Does the introduction clearly state the problem, provide context, and forecast content?
• Is the content logically organized, with effective and consistent headings?
• Does the document include clear and justified conclusions?
• Is information placed appropriately, fully developed, and balanced?
• Are visuals integrated clearly, consistently, and appropriately?

Language Problems (Global Level):

• Are headings and key terms used consistently?
• Is language appropriate for the intended audience?

Critical & Analytical Thinking Problems:

• Is evidence contextualized clearly and appropriately?
• Are evidence types (anecdotal, qualitative, textual, statistical, etc.) used effectively?
• Is the problem definition robust, addressing historical context, stakeholders, and relevant factors?
• Are recommendations logical, feasible, and supported by clearly presented evidence?

Step 2: Inspect at the Section Level (Mid-Level HOC/LOC)

Evaluate each section individually:

Questions to ask:

• What is this section about, and what is its function?
• Does it connect logically to surrounding sections?
• Are headings informative and accurate?
• Is each topic developed in appropriate depth and proportion?

Section-level Issues to Identify:

• Misleading or unclear headings
• Inappropriate or distracting visuals and design choices
• Uneven development or depth across sections

Step 3: Inspect at the Paragraph Level (LOC)

Review paragraphs thoroughly:

Check:

• Unity: each paragraph should focus clearly on a single idea
• Coherence: logical progression within and between paragraphs
• Transitions: effective and logical connections between paragraphs
• Genre conventions and reader expectations

Questions to ask:

• Do paragraphs support the overall purpose?
• Is the flow logical, following coordinate, deductive, or inductive order?

Step 4: Inspect at the Sentence Level (LOC)

Perform detailed sentence-level editing:

Identify and correct:

• Awkward, unclear, or overly complex sentences
• Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanical errors
• Structural issues like run-ons, fragments, comma splices
• Inconsistent diction or style

Strategies:

• Read aloud to spot awkward phrasing
• Proofread methodically (consider reading backward to catch spelling or punctuation errors)

How to Revise Co-Authored Projects

Revising collaboratively authored documents poses unique challenges:

• Resistance to deleting existing text
• Multiple audience needs
• Inconsistencies in style, tone, and content
• Disagreements among writers about revision priorities

Structured revision helps teams address these challenges by systematically prioritizing revisions. It guides teams in making strategic decisions about revision tasks, considering available time and project significance.

Recommended Approach:

• Individually perform structured revisions first
• Share insights in team meetings
• Agree collectively on the most significant revision priorities

Final Thoughts

Structured revision is iterative and flexible. Experienced writers frequently move between global (HOC) and local (LOC) concerns fluidly. Prioritizing Higher Order Concerns ensures your revisions build on a solid foundation, making subsequent sentence-level improvements effective and meaningful.

Related Concepts

What is Academic Dishonesty?; Academic Writing – How to Write for the Academic Community; Editing; Plagiarism; Proofreading; Revision; Rhetorical Analysis; Rhetorical Reasoning; Rhetorical Stance; Standard Written English; Style