diff --git a/Control/DeepSeq.hs b/Control/DeepSeq.hs
--- a/Control/DeepSeq.hs
+++ b/Control/DeepSeq.hs
@@ -8,10 +8,39 @@
 -- Stability   :  stable
 -- Portability :  portable
 --
--- Provides an overloaded function 'deepseq' for fully evaluating data
--- structures.
--- 
-
+-- This module provides an overloaded function, 'deepseq', for fully
+-- evaluating data structures (that is, evaluating to \"Normal Form\").
+--
+-- A typical use is to prevent resource leaks in lazy IO programs, by
+-- forcing all characters from a file to be read. For example:
+--
+-- > import System.IO
+-- > import Control.DeepSeq
+-- > 
+-- > main = do
+-- >     h <- openFile "f" ReadMode
+-- >     s <- hGetContents h
+-- >     s `deepseq` hClose h
+-- >     return s
+--
+-- 'deepseq' differs from 'seq' as it traverses data structures deeply,
+-- for example, 'seq' will evaluate only to the first constructor in
+-- the list:
+--
+-- > > [1,2,undefined] `seq` 3
+-- > 3
+--
+-- While 'deepseq' will force evaluation of all the list elements:
+--
+-- > > [1,2,undefined] `deepseq` 3
+-- > *** Exception: Prelude.undefined
+--
+-- Another common use is to ensure any exceptions hidden within lazy
+-- fields of a data structure do not leak outside the scope of the
+-- exception handler, or to force evaluation of a data structure in one
+-- thread, before passing to another thread (preventing work moving to
+-- the wrong threads).
+--
 module Control.DeepSeq (
      deepseq,
      NFData(..),
@@ -28,12 +57,14 @@
 import Data.Tree
 import Data.Array
 
--- | Fully evaluates its argument.  The name 'deepseq' is used to
--- illustrate the relationship to 'seq': where 'seq' is shallow in
--- the sense that it only evaluates the top level of its argument,
--- 'deepseq' traverses the entire data structure evaluating it
--- completely.
+-- | 'deepseq': fully evaluates the first argument, before returning the
+-- second.
 --
+-- The name 'deepseq' is used to illustrate the relationship to 'seq':
+-- where 'seq' is shallow in the sense that it only evaluates the top
+-- level of its argument, 'deepseq' traverses the entire data structure
+-- evaluating it completely.
+--
 -- 'deepseq' can be useful for forcing pending exceptions,
 -- eradicating space leaks, or forcing lazy I/O to happen.  It is
 -- also useful in conjunction with parallel Strategies (see the
@@ -48,7 +79,7 @@
 deepseq :: NFData a => a -> b -> b
 deepseq a b = rnf a `seq` b
 
--- A class of types that can be fully evaluated.
+-- | A class of types that can be fully evaluated.
 class NFData a where
     -- | rnf should reduce its argument to normal form (that is, fully
     -- evaluate all sub-components), and then return '()'.
diff --git a/deepseq.cabal b/deepseq.cabal
--- a/deepseq.cabal
+++ b/deepseq.cabal
@@ -1,13 +1,24 @@
 name:		deepseq
-version:	1.1.0.1
+version:	1.1.0.2
 license:	BSD3
 license-file:	LICENSE
 maintainer:	libraries@haskell.org
-synopsis:	Fully evaluate data structures
+synopsis:	Deep evaluation of data structures
 category:       Control
 description:
-    This package provides a \"deep\" version of seq, for fully evluating
-    data structures.
+    This package provides methods for fully evaluating data structures
+    (\"deep evaluation\"). Deep evaluation is often used for adding
+    strictness to a program, e.g. in order to force pending exceptions,
+    remove space leaks, or force lazy I/O to happen. It is also useful
+    in parallel programs, to ensure pending work does not migrate to the
+    wrong thread.
+    .
+    The primary use of this package is via the 'deepseq' function, a
+    \"deep\" version of 'seq'. It is implemented on top of an 'NFData'
+    typeclass (\"Normal Form Data\", data structures with no unevaluated
+    components) which defines strategies for fully evaluating different
+    data types.
+    .
 build-type:     Simple
 cabal-version:  >=1.6