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DIY Guide: how to proofread and edit an essay
Here is a step-by-step guide to editing and proofreading your academic paper, dissertation, thesis or essay.
This may sound obvious, but wait until you believe you have actually finished writing the essay.
Questions to ask yourself:
• Have you fulfilled all the requirements?
• Have you fully answered any arguments you raised?
• Have you written your thesis to the best of your ability without cutting corners?
• Have you written out shorthand or bullet points that needed expanding?
If you honestly answered ‘Yes!’ then you’re ready to proofread and edit your paper. It’s tempting to fiddle as you go along, but this is just a tactic to avoid doing any actual work. Finish writing; only then are you ready to tidy it up.
First, open a new document and write a brief heading for each paragraph. I find Mindmap (or any decent brainstorming software) ideal because it enables you to step back and see the outline, especially in larger pieces of work. This is the easiest method for putting a large piece of written work in order. It’s like zooming out; you’re not distracted by details; you see more clearly where the pieces do and don’t fit.
A well-written article runs seamlessly from one point to the next. Are your points in a logical, readable order or do you feel like you’re getting whiplash at the start of every new paragraph? Put your headings in the right order and then transpose this order to the master document.
A very basic rule is this: Say what you’re going to say (promise) – Say it (deliver) – Finish by saying what you said (explain delivery). For example: this article’s promise is to give you the information you need to proofread an academic paper, dissertation, thesis or essay. The delivery is the actual step-by-step guide. Explaining comes at the end where I summarise what I said, why it’s important and what to do if you need further help.
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