Post writing

Centre for Study Skills and Access

Overview

• Once you have produced a first draft of your essay, you should:

• Look over (review) your work • Make amendments (edit) • Proofread the document

Reviewing

• Read your work aloud - you may hear errors more easily than you see them

• Print your draft - use colours and pencil marks to identify the different kinds of changes you want to make (or use on-screen highlighting when word processing)

Editing

• Check for irrelevant material

• Do any of your points need to be clarified?

• Are any of your sentences or paragraphs too long-winded?

Editing

• Does every paragraph follow on logically from the one that preceeds it?

• Do any of your ideas need further development?

Editing

• Do you want/need to add information?

• Do you want/need to add evidence or support?

• Does your writing ‘flow’? Do you need to use linking phrases?

Editing

• Have you used punctuation correctly?

• Is it clear where your information came from by referencing appropriately?

• Have you checked your word count?

Proof-reading

• Look out for errors in:

• Spelling

• Grammar

• Punctuation

Activity

Summary

• Make sure you give yourself enough time to edit, review and proofread your work

• Try to become aware of the errors that you tend to make

Further reading

• COTTRELL, S. The study skills handbook. Second edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan; 2003.

Centre for Study Skills and Access

• Appointments available for writing skills development

• Phone 01224 263089• Or email censsa@rgu.ac.uk