college essay editing checklist

college essay editing checklist

College Essay Editing Checklist

1. Introduction

What to expect from this guide and when to use it. It is very hard to correctly proofread your own work because your brain auto-corrects as you are going along. It is very beneficial to have someone read your work that hasn’t written it, as they will be able to see if the work makes sense without them having the prior knowledge that the writer will have. You need to make sure you start this at least a week before your College/University deadline. It is also worth waiting a few days before you proofread. If the work is still fresh in your mind you will be less likely to pick up on issues. Going for a walk before proofreading will also help to freshen up the mind. High attention levels are required. Make sure you are in a distraction-free environment and have iced water on standby. It is unlikely every single point here will be relevant to everyone. So please tailor the points here to your University’s marking scheme or what your tutors have told you previously. The last editor of this guide was a student that has had submitted College work moderated by multiple tutors before and after editing upon the request of another student. Changes have also been made upon the basis that it has previously been suggested by a College tutor. This guide has had University, forum, tutor, and peer review and has been improved Thursday, October 17, 2010.

2. Content Review

Does the content make sense? Find topic sentences and re-read the passage of that section. Print off a hard copy and read the paper out loud. Then use the paper to make edits and re-read the paper out loud. Circle or highlight every punctuation mark in the paper. This will make it easier for you to check for punctuation errors. Does the paper have content that is parallel to the thesis statement? Read your paper sideways. This will let you focus on errors such as run-on sentences and awkward phrases. Add/insert missing or necessary information. To ensure that the paper makes sense and that a reader can follow your thoughts, outline the content of your paper as you understand it to be. Then ask a classmate, tutor, or family member to outline the content of your paper based on what they understand. Compare the two outlines to find any gaps or unclear transitions in your paper. To ensure a well-done conclusion and strong introduction, read the first five sentences and the last five sentences of your paper. This is what is most fresh in a reader’s mind, and it will be the make or break point for their understanding of your paper. If these sections are clear and well-written, your paper will be strong.

3. Structure and Organization

B. Title, Headings, and Subheadings 1. Title: Include a title that will give the reader the main idea of your paper. It should highlight the key issue of your paper and should be about 6-8 words that are truly descriptive of your main ideas. 2. Headings: If your paper is long, you may divide it into sections (for example, “Literature Review,” “Method and Results,” and “Discussion”). In some cases, the paper can be improved by using different section headings to clarify its organization. Any specific part of the paper (for instance, a statistical analysis or a single paragraph) may have a heading that is related to its content. Headings should be styled in descending order of prominence. After the first level, the other levels are subheadings—that is, they are progressively indented to the right. Each heading should also provide some brief and relevant information about the paragraph that follows. Note, however, that only the first paragraph of a section should have a heading. Title and headings usually appear in boldface. Use the same font and type as the body of the paper. 3. Subheadings: If the paper is very long, subheadings may be needed to organize the paragraphs. Keep them simple, preferably not more than 2 lines long.

Footnotes: Contrary to essays in the humanities, many others require the use of footnotes or endnotes to acknowledge sources. Single-spaced and with a space between entries, but conform to your professor’s preference.

A. Paper Format 1. Margins: Use a 1-inch margin for the entire paper. 2. Double-space: Double-space throughout the entire paper. Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs. 3. Alignment: Align the text to the left margin, leaving a ragged right margin. Do not use full justification. 4. Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph a half inch from the left margin. Indent set-off quotations a half inch as well (for examples, see 76–80 in the MLA Handbook). 5. Pagination: Number all pages in the upper right corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. Do not type a special header on the first page.

4. Language and Style

Finally, remember that your college essay is YOUR expression of YOU. No one else should be able to speak your words. Application of any style should be done tastefully and considerately. Reflect on your passions and personality. Let this shine through the language you use and the style in which you write.

Written in present tense: “This essay will discuss the effects of war on improving the economy of Bosnia as a whole.” Written more abstractly: “The effects of war are noted to foster an improvement in the overall economy of a region.” Both styles are correct; only you can decide which fits the intended audience for your essay. Any given assignment may be intended for one person or a small group of persons and/or a specific audience. Try to keep the writing style consistent throughout the essay, but this may be adjusted according to who will read your essay.

Develop a writing style that is appropriate to your readers by considering who and what they are. If you’re writing a persuasive essay for your English class, the tone should be slightly more aggressive and the language should show the depth of your knowledge. If you’re writing an essay as a class assignment, you don’t necessarily have to write for your instructor. Be conscious of the intended audience for your essay and adjust your writing style to fit your readers.

Use language that your reader will understand. If your essay is for a college course, you’ll want to tone down any over-the-top attempts at proving your maturity or demonstrating your knowledge of the assignment. Remember, this is still an essay, a paper designed to analyze and interpret information. Concrete language will help the reader understand exactly what you’re trying to say.

Language that is clear, concise, and well organized will result in a better essay. Ensure that your use of language is neither too literary nor too colloquial. Find the right words to express your ideas. Avoid redundancy; if you’ve made your point, you don’t need to repeat yourself. Use specific, concrete language.

5. Final Checks and Proofreading

Final checks and proofreading include attention to writing mechanics, such as grammar and punctuation, with special attention given to spelling. Kelly focuses on each of these elements when performing a final proofreading. He called the task of checking the mechanics “miserable” and says that he focuses on each type of error separately (Part 4, 7:02). He checks sentence structure first, making certain that each sentence is complete. By reading his paper out loud, he states, “If you can say it without stopping, the punctuation is probably correct” (Part 4, 7:45). Next, he checks for subject-verb agreement and verb tense. Finally, he does a check for spelling errors. He definitely suggests the use of a computer spelling and grammar check, as it can point out errors that need to be located. While the mechanics are not the most enjoyable part of writing, it is something that is crucial and not meant to be completed quickly. Kelly can easily spend five hours doing a final proofreading.