EQ: How Do I Compose/Edit the Third Draft of an Essay?

How do I mark someone else’s paper efficiently? Learn and use the standard editing marks. (See our whiteboard) or visit <http://www.merriam-webster.com/mw/table/proofrea.htm

How often should I use the words “I” and “you”? Establish your objectivity. Speak in third person. Don’t use “you” at all. Only use the term “I” for a personal anecdote. Instead of writing “I think Coben is incorrect,” just write “Coben is incorrect.”

How do I check the body of the paper? Does the body of the paper have a good flow? Just as in rap music, flow is important. Read the paper aloud. If it sounds choppy or you run out of breath trying to speak a sentence, the sentences either need to be combined or broken up.

How do I apply Step 6 of the “First Draft” PowerPoint to the third draft? Think about the overall organization of the essay. This is a judgment call. Rely on your own body of knowledge. Does the paper present the position as effectively as possible? Are the various points made in the best possible order? What arguments should come first? What arguments should come last?

Is the tone challenging yet comfortable for the audience? Does the tone of the essay sound thoughtful and well-researched? Did the writer use some sophisticated vocabulary (correctly!) that makes him/her sound well-educated? Does the way the writer speaks to me make me feel like reading further?

Check the opening and closing paragraphs. Did the writer introduce any new evidence in the final paragraph? THEY SHOULD NOT. Move it into the body. In the opening and hook, did the writer tell you what they were going to talk about and list some of their most important points? In the closing paragraph, did the writer very briefly summarize each argument – without repeating exactly what was in the opening – and then close out with one or two sentences that assert WHY IT MATTERS to the world?