Before you submit a paper you've written,
proof read it!
- What is the thesis? Which
section/paragraph supports it best? Why?
- Are there any important terms or
concepts that need to be defined better to help your reader
understand the paper?
- Find the topic sentence/main idea
(stated or implied) for each paragraph. If the main idea is only
implied, does it need to be clearly stated?
- Look for places where paragraphs could
be broken up, combined, or reorganized.
- Look for places where transitions are
needed.
- Identify "problem sentences"
in the paper and fix them (or seek help in doing so).
- Are there any quoted or paraphrased
lines that need citation? (avoid
plagiarism)
It can be easier to proofread your paper
if you put it aside for a day and come back to it fresh, as if you were
reading it for the first time. You can also ask someone else (friend or
family member) to read it, looking for the above noted points, and give
you feedback. Consider exchanging papers with a classmate to do this for
each other.
If you need assistance finding problem
areas with your writing and/or correcting them, consider a visit to a
campus writing center. That's what they are there for.
Reflect on your own writing:
- What are you most pleased with in this
draft? Be specific
- What was a big problem you had in
writing this draft?
- What is your best claim to originality
in this draft?
- What, specifically, do you need to do
next to revise your draft? List improvements that you can make and,
for each proposed improvement, briefly note how you might attempt
it?
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