Final answer:
The first and most important step in revising your first draft as a writer is to elaborate, which includes the comprehensive process of revision, developing ideas, and ensuring the logical flow and structure. Option C is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a writer, the first and most important step in revising your first draft is to engage in the process of revision. This is more comprehensive than simply editing for grammar or spelling. Revision includes reading the entire piece for the big picture, checking if the content is sufficient, and if it is arranged in a logical manner. During this stage, you assess and define your main ideas, clarify your arguments, smooth-out rough areas, and ensure your evidence is robust and on-topic. The goal is to develop your ideas more fully, and create a flow that is accurate and graceful.
Post-writing, it's crucial to be critical; cut out any unnecessary parts that don't serve your purpose or support your thesis statement. When revising, it's not uncommon to rearrange points, delete significant parts of the text, or even refine your thesis to better reflect the direction of your essay. Through the revision process, the structure of your work becomes clearer, leading to a more coherent and persuasive final draft.
Edit your work after you have revised it to address sentence-level concerns. This includes word choice, sentence variety, tense consistency, and grammar. Furthermore, proofreading is a separate step that should only occur after the piece has been revised and edited, concentrating on correcting typos, punctuation, and formatting according to the appropriate style guide.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question, "As a writer, the first and most important step in revising your first draft is to ______," would be: c. elaborate.