The single most useful tool for revising a research paper is the comments of those who have read it. The more comments you can get, the better. Suggestions received during workshop periods can be extremely helpful when revising your paper, but remember that you do not need to take any advice you don't agree with. If you can get your teacher to critique your paper, her comments should be used extensively during revision. Following your teacher's comments is one of the easiest ways to improve your grade, and it is also a good idea to seek the opinions of other well-educated people because they can give you a different perspective.
Tutors can be helpful tools when revising research papers. Many schools have writing centers or tutoring labs where any student can go to work one-on-one with a tutor. Tutors can help you with organizational or content issues as well as helping clean up any grammatical errors you may have. Tutors can also help you find quality sources if you are having trouble finding more resources for your paper. If nothing else, a tutor can be someone to bounce ideas off of.
While dictionaries and thesauruses should be used throughout the writing process of a research paper, they can be especially useful tools in the revision of a paper. Before handing in the final copy of any paper, use a dictionary to make sure there are no spelling errors. If you find yourself repeating words or using stilted language, the thesaurus may be able to help. With the advent of online dictionaries and thesauruses, using these resources is easier than ever.
Flexibility is one of the great tools of any writer. When dealing with research papers, this means you have to be prepared to throw away large sections of text if they are not working toward your paper's ultimate goal, change the entire organizational scheme of your paper if it does not flow smoothly and reevaluate your sources if they are not giving you useful information. The inability to be flexible is one of the most common mistakes students make when revising research papers. Being flexible enough to properly revise your paper will take time, but the results will be worth it.