8. Reviewing
Reviewing your own work is an important skill to develop.
Most people find it is easier to do a first draft quickly, without worrying about spelling and grammar. This allows you to express your ideas more freely. Then, review what you have written and do a second draft more carefully, attending to the details. In fact, you shouldn't be surprised if you do lots of drafts (or at least revisions) of your work. It's a process.
Techniques for Reviewing your Work.
First, step away from your work, for example leave it for a day, or sleep on it. This gives you fresh eyes.
- Get Feedback: From other students, friends, family.
- Read Aloud: This is a great way to find out if your writing flows and has the correct punctuation.
- Focus on Clarity: Are your arguments clear and have you given support for all your points?
- Focus on Flow: Can the reader follow your writing easily? Do the sentences and paragraphs flow naturally together?
- Focus on Conciseness: Have you used more words than you need? If so, rephrase.
- Proofread: Check for typing mistakes. grammar, spelling, punctuation, spaces between words. Use tools such as spellcheck.
Click here for our Editing and Proofreading Resources page.
- Check References: Make sure you have cited references in your text to support your points. Also, make sure you have included an alphabetical list of the full references at the end of your assignment.
The Library has produced a guide for Harvard referencing which is full of examples of the different kinds of sources you might be referencing. You will also find information about the tools you can use to help with referencing.
Click here for the Library's guide to Harvard Referencing
Click here for our Incorporating Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism Resources page
- Check Formatting: For example, pay attention to line spacing, correct font and font size (when you paste text it might be in the wrong font).
