A. The final stage before submission
a. Revising -> b. Editing -> c. Proofreading -> d. Formatting -> e. Submission
The order represents the steps, the importance (from most important/macro-level) to least important.
Notes
a) Revising:
Making improvements to the content/structure, focusing on the essay level (the essay as a whole)
b) Editing:
Making improvements (rewriting) at the sentence level
c) Proofreading:
Correction of mistakes (e.g. spelling, grammar, and punctuation), mostly at the sentence-level
d) Formatting:
Ensuring consistency of presentation and adherence to the style guide
B. Revising your work
Use the assessment criteria as a checklist:
- Read through the maker's eyes
- Try to predict your grade
- Address problems
The sample of the university's criteria
a. Suggested checklist
- Answering the question
- Does the main point/claim fully answer the question (comparing the thesis statement)
- Accuracy
- Technical language
- Claims
- Use of evidence
- Does the essay use appropriate, relevant, evidence to support its point?
-Structure
- Is this the most appropriate order for these ideas? Do you need to move anything?
b. Respond to Feedback
- Others may see things that you missed
- Comments from previous assignments
c. Allow enough time
it may take more time than expected
C. Editing your work
a. Definition
b. Improvement at the sentence-level
1) Clarity
2) Conciseness
3) Style
D. Proofreading
a) Definition
- Reading to Identify and correct errors in spelling grammar, and punctuation
- From-focus rather than content focus
- Penultimate stage of the writing process before submission
b) Why is proofreading important
Errors are inevitable, distract, can obscure meaning, and potentially lower grades
1) Language-focus
- consciously focus on the accuracy of the language (and not on the meaning)
- Meaning distract
- Requires practices
Examples of language issues
2) Listen to your intuitions
- A sense or feeling that a sentence may be grammatically inaccurate
- Mark it for further checks later
3) Use the spell-check function
4) Use the find and replace function
- Us to correct the repeated error
5) Cover up the following lines of text
- On-screen, scroll down to make one sentence visible at the time
6) Proofread after taking a break
- Fresh perspective gained after doing something different
- 2-3 days
7) Read your work in a different format
- on-screen vs paper
8) Read aloud
9) Learn from past mistakes
- Search specifically for error
10) Mentain mental agility
- Stay alert (drowsiness, energy level, stay hydrated)
E. Formatting your work
Ensuring consistency of presentation and adherence to the style guide.
a) Presentation
- Referencing/citation
- Paragraph formatting
- indented or blank line in between
- Headings and numbering
- Adherence
- little control over formatting
- Simply follow the guide
- Consistency
b) How to format your work
- Automate process
- use in-built styles and automatic numbering
- use the find and replace function
- use of quotation marks: single (x) to y
- Extra white space between words and paragraphs
- Use software (e.g. Endnote) for reference and in-text citations
c) Consistency
- The key to good formatting
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