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Editing + Proofreading Your Writing
Objectives 1. To understand and appreciate the importance of proofreading and editing as part of
the writing process 2. To understand and identify the three areas of the proofreading and editing stage:
structural, grammatical and technical 3. To review common grammatical errors with a view to enhancing writing quality
Discussion 1. Editing and proofreading – are they the same thing? 2. Why is it important to edit and/or proofread your work before submission? 3. What steps do you follow to edit and/or proofread your work?
Editing vs Proofreading Editing involves: • close reading and re-writing of a draft • improving clarity and argumentation • improving the sense of the writing.
Proofreading involves: • checking the final draft for mistakes such as spelling, punctuation, subject-verb
agreement and other grammatical errors.
Plan of attack! 1. Structural aspects 2. Grammatical aspects + punctuation 3. Technical aspects
Structural aspects • Assignment type – essay, report, case study, literature review, etc. • Assignment topic, scope, requirements and marking criteria • Structure – recommended structure by the lecturer/faculty?
• Introduction – background information; thesis/purpose; outline of main ideas • Body – one main idea per paragraph; logical and coherent from one paragraph to the next
• Topic sentence – topic and controlling idea • Supporting sentences – support the controlling idea (explanation, elaboration, evidence, examples…) • Concluding sentence – sums up the controlling idea / link to the next controlling idea
• Conclusion – restate thesis/purpose; summarise main ideas; concluding statement; no new information
• Reference list
Grammatical aspects + punctuation • Articles • Verb tenses • Subject-verb agreement • Sentence fragments • Run-on sentences • Overuse of the passive voice • Reference words • Clichés and set phrases • Word choice • Parallelism • Capitalisation, commas, apostrophes, semi-colons, quotation marks, etc.
Technical aspects • Referencing (in-text and reference list) – number, reliability, validity, currency • Layout and formatting – pagination, name and ID, margins, line spacing, font, font
size, word count… • Cover sheet • Electronic (Turnitin) and hardcopy submission
Activity – Editing the structure of your draft 1. Can you identify the three elements of an introduction in your draft? 2. Can you identify the three elements of a body paragraph in the body paragraphs of
your draft? • Do you have a topic sentence (with the topic and a controlling idea) at the start of each body
paragraph? • Do all the supporting sentences explain/elaborate on/support the controlling idea? • Do you have a concluding sentence for each body paragraph?
3. Can you identify the three elements of a conclusion in your draft? 4. If you extract the thesis/purpose (from the introduction) and the topic sentences
(from the body paragraphs), can you see the strength and logic of your arguments in fulfilling the thesis/purpose?
Activity – proofreading your draft 1. Identify two or three issues of concern, e.g. sentence structure, articles, verb tenses,
subject-verb agreement 2. Read a paragraph (or two if time allows), and correct these mistakes.
Advice • Allow enough time • Know what your problem areas are • Use HELPS • Read aloud • Get someone to read your work
HELPS services and programs: • Daily workshops • Assignment advice
• 15-min drop-in consultation • 40-min one-to-one consultation by referral
• WriteNow! Writing support sessions • Conversations@UTS • HELPS Volunteers and Mentors • Self-help resources • Holiday intensive workshops
Contact us Building 1, Level 3, Room 8 (opposite Tower Café and Careers Service) T: 9514 9733 E: helps@uts.edu.au W: ssu.uts.edu.au/helps
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