Student Services Essential Study Skills – Proofreading Sue Butler Study Support Service, Student Services udysupportservice

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Aims of this session To advise on strategies for proofreading To advise on strategies for proofreading To introduce you to available resources on proofreading To introduce you to available resources on proofreading To discuss any questions/concerns on proofreading To discuss any questions/concerns on proofreading

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Why proofread? Could mean difference between pass/fail, or lower/higher grade. Could increase mark by up to 10%. Important part of writing process -build in time for it. Expect to spend at least an hour on a 2000 word essay.

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Problem: I can’t see my mistakes! Look at work afresh: Build in time lapse between writing and proofreading Plan to finish writing a week ahead of deadline Print off a hard copy Put draft aside for a day or so

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® I can’t see my mistakes (cont.) Read differently: Read in a different place Read slowly; look at each word separately Read backwards – paragraph by paragraph or sentence by sentence Read aloud

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® I can’t see my mistakes (cont.) Look through your reader’s eyes - act as a critical reader Engage help Have someone else read it aloud to you

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Problem: I don’t know where to start or what to look for! Look systematically, moving from overall structure to detail: Edit for content, structure Check if ideas clearly expressed Look for specific types of mistakes one by one, based on your commonly made errors

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Edit for content, structure, clarity Have you answered question/addressed learning outcomes? Have you done what introduction said? Is order logical? Have you signposted/linked ideas coherently?

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Editing (cont.) Does every sentence make sense? Ideas expressed precisely? (any ambiguity,vagueness?) Ideas expressed concisely? (any repetition, over wordiness?) Style academic? Style academic? (any colloquialisms, cliches, sweeping/judgemental statements?) (any colloquialisms, cliches, sweeping/judgemental statements?)

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Know your own weaknesses - look for mistakes you commonly make Focus on a different aspect each time: Grammar, e.g. subject/verb agreement, tense changes, singular/plural mix up Wrong use of words Missing words/word endings/letters

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Proofread for details (cont.) Punctuation: run on sentences, commas, apostrophes Spelling Spelling Referencing Use of abbreviations Formatting – e.g. spacing between words/paragraphs, consistency in fonts

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Taking a closer look Spelling Use, but don’t rely on, spellchecker. Use AutoText and AutoCorrect in Microsoft WordAutoText and AutoCorrect Be aware of common spelling mistakes. Make sure you spell important subject-specific terms correctly. See our study guide Spelling TipsSpelling Tips

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Spelling (cont.) Try online tools to help with spelling: On line dictionaries: On line dictionaries: Use Google as spellchecker – type “define” in search box, then word needed, then press return Use Google as spellchecker – type “define” in search box, then word needed, then press return

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Referencing Check library referencing guide and video/audio guidesreferencing guide video/audio guides Check every citation in essay is also in reference list, and that each source in list is cited in text. Pay attention to details in reference list: punctuation, capitalisation, use of italics. Make sure dates are correct and consistent.

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Proofreading – other useful tools Text Help Read and Write - floating tool bar that reads text aloud. Text Help Read and Write - floating tool bar that reads text aloud. Text Help Read and Write Text Help Read and Write Free 30 day trial available Free 30 day trial available Word Talk Word Talk Word Talk Word Talk Free plug in Free plug in Reads text aloud and highlights it as it goes Reads text aloud and highlights it as it goes

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Proofreading – useful tools (cont.) MyStudyBarMyStudyBar – free floating toolbar to support reading (including colour filter and text reader) and writing. Can be used from USB stick or installed onto desktop. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. MyStudyBar Windows 7 and Vista Accessibility options and programmes e.g. Narrator Windows 7 and Vista Accessibility options and programmes e.g. Narrator Windows 7 Vista Windows 7 Vista

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Further guidance Hull University’s guide to proofreading Hull University’s guide to proofreading Hull University’s Hull University’s The BBC’s ‘Skillswise’ writing section The BBC’s ‘Skillswise’ writing section‘Skillswise’ Study Support Service study skills guides and links to external websites Study Support Service study skills guides and links to external websites Study Support Service Study Support Service

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Further guidance (cont.) University of Leicester study guide on editing, includes 5 last stage, ‘proofreading’: University of Leicester study guide Purdue Online Writing Lab: tips on looking at details, looking for cohesion etc Purdue Online Writing Lab Plain English Guide to general approaches to proof reading Plain English Guide

Created with MindGenius Business 2005® Questions? Concerns?