There's an important difference between surface errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, footnotes, bibliography, etc.) and deeper flaws (organization problems overall or within paragraphs, introducing and commenting on quotes, insufficient evidence or explanation, etc.).  Surface errors usually result from insufficient, hurried proof-reading before printing the paper, and can be easily corrected.

What Is a Revision?

A revision, or a rewrite, of a paper is very different from just correcting surface errors.  If that's all you do, it is unlikely to improve your grade significantly.  A genuine revison (or rewrite) involves much bigger changes and more work, such as: doing more research and finding and using better sources; changing the organization (outline, structure) of the whole paper; changing the structure of paragraphs by having new and better topic sentences and changing the order and content of sentences within paragraphs; adding more content, or providing more detailed explanations of vague or obscure points.  A revision is a big deal.  Correcting surface errors is busy work that should be routinely done before you hand a paper in.

For a revision, turn in:

• The original graded paper, the one with our comments on it.  Omit the old photocopies (unless they were missing earlier), omit earlier drafts, and omit peer reviews.  But include appropriate photocopies (or web printouts) of any new sources.

• Your revised paper.  Put "Revised," plus the date, under your name, meeting time, etc.