Before you Proofread Be sure you’ve revised the larger aspects of your text (see revision card for help) Set your text aside for a while (15 minutes, a day, a week, whatever time you’ve got) between writing and proofing. Eliminate unnecessary words before looking for mistakes. Know what to look for.

When you ProofRead Read out loud!!! Use a blank sheet of paper to cover up the lines below the one you’re reading Use the search function of the computer to find mistakes you’re likely to make If you tend to make many mistakes, check separately for each kind of error, moving from the most to the least important, and following whatever technique best works for you to identify that kind of mistake (ex: read through once (backwards, sentence by sentence) to check for fragments; read through gain (forward) to be subjects and verbs agree, and again (perhaps using the computer search for “this,” “it,” and “they”) to trace pronouns to antecedents. End with a spelling check, using a computer spelling checker or reading backwards word by word Go To https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Proofreading.html for more information

How to Polish Professional and Academic Writing - 1 1. Avoid First Person (I, me, my, we, our) and Second Person (you, you all) a. Use Third Person (One, people, readers, viewers) b. Take out “my opinion, I think, I feel,” etc. from your sentences i. Example: Change I think Gary Ross is not justified because he glorifies rebellion in his film to Gary Ross is not justified because he glorifies rebellion in his film c. Avoid addressing your reader directly (avoid addressing the reader directly) i. Example: Change You might think there is no connection between Pleasantville and the “Story of Adam and Eve”, but you would if you looked close to One might think there is no connection between Pleasantville and the “Story of Adam and Eve”, but there is if one looks.

How to Polish Professional and Academic Writing - 2 2. Avoid Overuse of Pronouns a. Use names of characters to clarify who is who i. Example: Change He teaches him that his life is in his own hands and not in his hands by giving him a book about art to David teaches Bill that his life is in his own hands and not in David’s hands by giving Bill a book about art. b. Name specific objects or ideas rather than “it” or “these/those” i. Example: Change It represents a change because it shows the viewer that these are better than those to Color represents a change because color shows the viewer that expressing emotion is better than being pleasant.

How to Polish Professional and Academic Writing – 3&4 3. Avoid Contractions (don’t, can’t, aren’t) Use Do no, cannot, are not etc. instead 4. Vary sentence structure a. Make sure sentences begin differently b. Use a combination of short and long sentences c. Ask questions strategically (but make sure to answer them unless it’s part of your closing)

How to Polish Professional and Academic Writing – 5-6 5. Vary Diction (word choice) a. Use a thesaurus to replace common words with more exciting words (BUT: make sure you are using those new words correctly by looking up the definitions first) i. Example: Change A lot to an abundance, a plenty, a myriad, profusions, a plethora b. Avoid slang and colloquialisms (don’t write like you talk to your besties, homies, bros, your bae-you get the idea. Write for a professional audience.) 6. Open with a hook/tease and end with a bold statement or call to action

Peer Review Checklist - Nonfiction Directions: Read your partner’s letter. Use the highlight tool to mark places where the writing needs work. Mark places that are confusing in yellow, mark misspelled or misused words in pink, mark tense or POV inconsistencies in green, mark abrupt, unbelievable or unexplained ideas/claims in blue. Check ONLY the boxes you see definite evidence of in your partner’s story. Be honest. Claims about issue (causes and effects) are clear and articulate Writing is focused and on topic Information is current, relevant, and correct Uses a variety of evidence to support claims Idea are plausible (seem like they could work or be carried out; realistic) Ideas are informed by careful research from multiple perspectives, not simply the writer’s opinions Analysis of the problem articulates how it impacts the community from multiple perspectives Solution to the problem shows a well-reasoned compromise between those impacted by the issue Analysis and solutions to the problem are detailed, nuanced, and fully explained Editor’s Checklist Proper use of their, they’re and there No typos (look for words that are spelled correctly but aren’t correct, like writing “form” when meaning“ from) Direct citations from sources are in quotation marks. Tabbed in at each new paragraph No sentence fragments (All sentences have an action and an actor at least) No comma splices (commas are not connecting what should be two complete sentences)