Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre Interna7onal
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre Interna7onal
Editing and Proof reading
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Wait!
� Try and leave a gap of at least a day between finishing your essay and proof reading/editing
� Create some distance
� Be able to see what you actually wrote
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Editing your draft
� Have I addressed the essay title and guidelines?
� Have I left anything out? � Is there anything I don’t need? – be ruthless!
� If it doesn’t add anything to the line of argument don’t use it.
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Paragraphs
� Read each paragraph – what is the main topic for each, sum it up in as few words as possible
� Which is your topic sentence? – highlight it, is it at the start of the paragraph?
� Is everything relevant? – circle anything you are not sure of, you might want to move it. Cross out anything that is irrelevant.
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Structure
� Is everything in the right place? Have bits wandered into other paragraphs? Highlight anything that might have gone astray.
� Are sentences in the right order? Is it clear how each sentence leads on to the next?
� Is the line or argument clear? Is it clear how each paragraph relates to the others and leads into the next?
� Is every paragraph relevant to the title? � Does it make sense? Read it aloud slowly � Evidence – have you used examples, details and/or research?
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Referencing
� Is the source of your information clear?
� Are your quotations accurate? � Are references written correctly?
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Sentences
� Are the sentences the right length? � If you can’t read a sentence all the way through, keeping the meaning, try cutting it into two sentences.
� If you pause and there is not comma or full stop, check to see what is needed.
� Use short sentences to draw attention to key ideas or statements.
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Style
� Is the text easy to read? Is your style too chatty? A bit pompous?
‘the writer is out of order to suggest that’
‘the argument was a bit over the top’
� Avoid generalisations or assumptions
� Be precise e.g. Avoid ‘some people’ (who?) or ‘at the time’ (when?)
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Check the tone of your writing
Personal writing
� Active voice – I find that
� Subjective � Can be intuitive
Academic writing
� Passive voice – It was found that
� Objective
� Uses reasoning and evidence
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Proof reading
� Use spell check and grammar check -‐ but remember they will not pick up everything! (N.B make sure you are not on American spelling)
� To find alternative words try right clicking on the word and look at ‘synonyms’
� Find a proof-‐reading ‘buddy’
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Things to avoid
� contractions don’t, can’t, hasn’t � bullet points � subheadings � lists (always use full sentences)
� bold � italics � Abbreviations e.g. or i.e. � Starting a sentence with or, and, but or yet
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Formatting
� Header -‐ include your name, your student number, your tutor and the assessment code (e.g. Study Skills 1A)
� Number your pages in a footer
� Double space your text � Extra line between paragraphs
� Leave wide margins left, right, top and bottom (approx 3 cm)
� Use a standard font in 12 point size � Bibliography on separate page at the end
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre International
Copyright © May 2014, Montessori Centre Interna7onal