Editing and Proofreading: Argumentative Essay with references to A Writer’s Resource

DISCLAIMER By now, I assume you have already spent ample time thinking about your argument and developing your support. However, if you feel your paper still lacks critical thought, logical support, or persuasive argument, you may not want to move on to editing yet. Specifically, you may not yet be ready for the editing techniques at the end of this slideshow.

Global Revision Checklist Purpose and Audience  Does the draft accomplish its purpose – to present a clearly articulated argument and persuade the audience, not merely compile facts or statistics?  Is the draft appropriate for its audience? Does it account for the audience’s knowledge of the subject, level of interest in the subject, and possible attitudes toward the subject?

Global Revision Checklist Focus  Is the thesis clear? Is it placed prominently?  If the thesis is not the last sentence of the first paragraph, is there a good reason? And is it still clear which sentence is the thesis?  Do the introduction and conclusion focus clearly on the central idea/thesis?  Are any ideas obviously off the point? (could be an entire paragraph or just a sentence or word)

Global Revision Checklist They Say/I Say  Is it clear who/what your own argument is responding to?  Do you clearly distinguish your own ideas and views from those of others?  Do you consider other points of view (i.e., alternative points of view, counterarguments, objections) in order to make your own argument stronger?

Global Revision Checklist Organization and Paragraphing (pp in AWR)  Are there enough organizational cues for readers (such as topic sentences or headings)? (pp in AWR)  Are ideas presented in a logical order?  Are any paragraphs too short or too long for easy reading?

Global Revision Checklist Content  Is the supporting material relevant and persuasive?  Which ideas need further development?  Are the parts proportioned sensibly? Do major ideas receive enough attention?  Where might material be deleted?

Global Revision Checklist Point of View (p. 428, 431 in AWR)  Is the draft free of distracting shifts in point of view (from I to you, for example, or from it to they)?  Is the dominant point of view – first person (I or we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, it, one, or they) – appropriate for your purpose and audience?

Editing Paragraphs: General Make paragraphs coherent:  Have you linked ideas clearly?  Are there enough transitions? Paragraph-level? Sentence-level?  Do you repeat key words to reinforce main points/tie back to your thesis?  Have you used parallel structures?  Do you maintain consistency (in main idea, in verb tense, in point of view)?

Editing Paragraphs: Introduction Do you:  Catch the audience’s attention/interest?  Provide a clear context for your issue/argument?  Make your argument clear? Do you provide appropriate qualifiers? Do you discuss the opposition/counterargument? Do you need to? Do you merely present a problem, a call to action, or both? Should you change this at all? pp , 141 in AWR

Editing Paragraphs: Body Does each paragraph focus on just one main point? Do you introduce information in any paragraph that isn’t developed or seems unrelated to the topic sentence? If so, should it be developed (possibly into a new paragraph) or omitted? Do any paragraphs repeat information from previous paragraphs? Should these ideas be combined, omitted, moved?

Editing Paragraphs: Body Does each paragraph have a topic sentence that announces the main point? Do your topic sentences relate to your thesis statement? (is it clear how each paragraph or topic in your paper relates to your argument) Do your topic sentences emphasize your argument?

Editing Paragraphs: Body Does every sentence of the paragraph relate to the topic sentence? Is there enough detail to develop the main point of the paragraph? Does each paragraph flow smoothly from the one before? (Use transitions)

Editing Paragraphs: Conclusion Does the final paragraph provide satisfactory closure? Do you synthesize the information presented in the rest of the paper without merely restating your thesis? Do you have any new information (not mentioned yet in intro. or body)? Should it be there, or should it be omitted? Are readers left with an understanding of why this is an important and/or relevant argument?

Editing Sentences Is each sentence complete? Do you use primarily active rather than passive voice? (pp. 422, in AWR) Are your lists parallel? (pp in AWR) Do many of your sentences begin with it or there? (or any other word) Are your sentences varied? (pp in AWR)

Editing Words Are you sure of the meaning of each word? Is any of your language too general or too vague? Is any of your language too informal? (avoid anything that sounds like slang) Do your words convey the tone of your stance? Do all pronouns have clear antecedents? Have you used any clichés?

Editing Words (cont’d.) Could your words be offensive to others? Are too many of your words forms of “be,” “do,” and “have”? If so, use more specific verbs. Do you confuse spellings of words? (specifically, check it’s and its; their, there, and they’re; definitely and defiantly, and names of people and places) Do you know the difference between plurals and possessives? Have you used them correctly?

Editing Words (cont’d.) Check for wordiness:  Eliminate redundant words Ex: “King shows us that we are all crazy and need mental help” Revised: “King shows us that we are all mentally ill.” Eliminate empty words: These are words that fill space and do not add content to the sentence: Ex: absolutely, awesome, awfully, definitely, fine, great, literally, quite, really, very (See Tab 9, “Editing for Clarity” in AWR)

Your trends in error Do you have a tendency to make certain mistakes? Think about comments I’ve given you so far this semester or comments past instuctors have given you.

Citations: in-text Does the in-text citation give the first word you see on the corresponding citation in the Works Cited page? Do you give the author (or important word from title) and the page (or paragraph) number? Have you used signal phrases to introduce others’ ideas? Do you make it clear which ideas are other peoples’ and which are your own? Do you give the full name of a person the first time you refer to him/her and then just the last name from then on? Do you offer good explanations of each quote?

Citations: Works Cited Page Check your book! Do not just rely on an online citation site unless you are positive it is completely correct for each type of source you’re using and is using the updated MLA guidelines.