As a general rule, the best time to revise is not right after you've completed a draft (although at times this is unavoidable). Does it make the reader want to keep on reading? Check pronouns’ referents: Draw a small square around each pronoun. In fact, it may have just begun. Draw an arrow to the pronoun’s antecedent/referent. You may hear problems in your writing that you can't see. Is the introductory paragraph interesting? Very short? Does the essay maintain a consistent. 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This way you'll be less protective of your writing and better prepared to make changes. Look at your sentences: are they very long? revision (composition) Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs. 11 Quick Tips to Improve Your Writing. You should have some transitions but not too many. Are the sentences varied in length and structure? If you think you don’t need to edit your essay, it could be that you do, indeed, have advanced essay writing skills that would put Mark Twain to shame, but it’s much more likely that you just can’t be bothered. Instead, wait a few hours--even a day or two, if possible--in order to gain some distance from your work. 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Proofreaders' and Teachers' Correction Marks, Revision and Editing Checklist for a Narrative Essay, Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs, 6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay, Thesis: Definition and Examples in Composition, Evaluate This Student Essay: Why I Hate Mathematics, Revision Checklist for a Descriptive Paragraph, Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition, Check Your Knowledge: How to Support a Topic Sentence, Check Your Knowledge: Create a Simple Outline, Making Paragraphs Flow With Smooth Transitions, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York, Does the essay have a clear and concise main idea? An Introduction to Academic Writing. 6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay. Does this paragraph have topic sentences at the beginning of each body paragraph? Check for singular/plural consistency. This approach is particularly effective because it allows you to concentrate better on specific aspect. Dull it may be, but the editing process really is all the difference between a grade your mom will brag about at the local five and dime and something so poor that your dreams of getting a scholarship are firmly dashed. Revision means looking again at what we have written to see how we can improve it. Mason welcomes its community to campus for fall 2020 semester with in-person instruction, online classes, and research activities. Essay Writing: Writer’s Checklist Introduction: Is the main idea (i.e., the writer’s opinion of the story title) stated clearly? Have I extrapolated anything meaningful? It’s no major secret that the students who bag the top grades are those who spend time editing and refining their essays. Are the paragraphs relatively similar lengths? If quotations have been used, have they been smoothly integrated into the text with my own sentence both before and after the quote, including signal phrases? Once you have finished revising your essay, you can turn your attention to the finer details of editing and proofreading your work. Taking the time to rethink our approach may encourage us to make major changes in the content and structure of our work. Proofreading Quiz: What’s Your Harry Potter Proofreading Personality? Visit Mason’s Safe Return to Campus Plan and Do Your Part. If you don’t have time to follow the essay editing checklist to perfect your essay but are smart enough to realize there’s room for improvement, consider using the services of a professional editor. Have I examined my paper for excess repetition (of words, phrases, sentence constructions)? Then we return to the draft, perhaps several times, to make further revisions. Does this paper fulfill all requirements of the assignment? Do the topic sentences both connect to the thesis and introduce what I will be talking about in the paragraph itself? Share Flipboard Email Print "Leave a decent space of time between writing something and editing it," says English author Zadie Smith. One last bit of advice: read your work aloud when you revise. Is each transitional word being used appropriately? Have I used active and passive voice appropriately, given the field of writing? Revision and Editing Checklist for a Narrative Essay. Double-underline the subject and underline the verb for each independent clause. Can the reader easily know what you mean by it?). Capitalization. A sentence that starts with for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, although, as, because, or which runs a high risk of being a sentence fragment, so read it out loud to check if any additional words are needed or if it should be connected to the previous sentence. Have I read the entire paper aloud, one word at a time, to check for simple errors? Choosing Between Infinitive and Gerund: “To do” or “doing”? Our academic editing services can transform your essay from good to great in less than 24 hours. Is each paragraph clearly related to the main idea of the essay? Make sure each subject has a verb. Is the thesis specific? Have I properly formatted quotes over three lines (using indentation)? Our online essay editors can attest to that! Privacy Statement | Accessibility, Advice on Setting Up and Working with a Writing Group, Avoiding Fragments with Dependent Clauses. Some of us start revising as soon as we begin a rough draft--restructuring and rearranging sentences as we work out our ideas. Essay Editing Checklist If you don’t have time to follow the essay editing checklist to perfect your essay but are smart enough to realize there’s room for improvement, consider using the services of a professional editor. Have I carefully proofread the paper for spelling and punctuation? Does the conclusion do more than simply repeat the introduction, or summarize my argument? Are there paragraphs that seem to be too long or too short? Check for complete sentences: Starting from the last sentence in your paper, read it backwards, one sentence at a time. Body Paragraphs: Does each body paragraph have a clear topic sentence that is related to the main idea of the essay? At the end of each sentence, make a slash mark (/). Our academic editing services can transform your essay from good to great in less than 24 hours. Download this guide as a PDF; Return to all guides; Writing as Process. Are there transitions between paragraphs? Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. A Checklist for Editing Paragraphs and Essays A Quick Guide to Editing and Proofreading a Composition. Is the main point of each paragraph clear? Can they be understood on the first reading? Could any sentences be improved by, Are the words in the essay clear and precise? Sadly, your work isn’t quite done the minute you hit the final keystroke on your conclusion. This handy essay editing checklist contains some useful hints and tips as to the important things you should be on the lookout for when editing an essay. Copyediting Services Explained: This is What the Professionals Do, How to Write a Thesis Statement That Your Professor Will Love, 11 Extremely Funny Cover Letters That People Actually Sent, The Free Essay Editing Checklist That will Put You Top of the Class. Mix it up! Get a free quote now! Each word in an essay title begins with a capital letter. The first thing you need to get your head around is that the first draft of your essay will most certainly not be perfect. © Copyright 2020 George Mason University. Does this paper have a thesis? … Have I explained to my audience why this paper is important to them? Check transitional words and phrases: Draw a wavy line under each transitional word or phrase (moreover, in addition, on the other hand, etc.). Be on the lookout for misplaced or absent commas that result in run-on sentences or comma splices. Editing Checklist. Check that your writing is clear and specific on who or what the pronoun is referring to (Does the reader know who they are? Does the paper have an original, meaningful title? Have I documented paraphrases and quotations appropriately, using an approved citation guide (MLA, APA, etc.)? Get a free quote now! Have I maintained consistent use of verb tense? Is each point adequately and clearly defined in a, Are the sentences clear and direct? It doesn’t matter how advanced your written composition skills are, there WILL be mistakes in your essay, and there WILL be room for improvement (check out our guide to how to edit an essay for some great ideas). Is this idea made clear to the reader in a. Have I used an appropriate number and variety of sources (per the assignment requirements)? All Rights Reserved. This free essay editing checklist can help you to perfect your essay and take your grades up a notch with very little effort. Self- and Peer Editing Checklist. If you’re looking for specific help with APA formatting, check out our APA style checklist. This helps you focus on a single sentence. We’ve divided this checklist into sub-categories to ensure that you will check your paper for one type of mistake at a time. It’s by no means definitive, but it’s an ideal starting point if you find yourself wondering how the heck to turn the first draft of your essay into a finely tuned masterpiece that will knock your professor’s socks off. Is there enough information in the essay to support the main idea? How To Write an Essay. Check for varied sentence structure and length: With a pen in your hand, read your paper out loud. 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