Editing and Proofreading. 2. Editing and Proofreading. This presentation is an
overview of how to edit and proofread your assignments. Editing. Content.
www.library.qut.edu.au QUT Library
Editing and Proofreading
Editing and Proofreading
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Editing and Proofreading This presentation is an overview of how to edit and proofread your assignments.
Word choice
Content
Sources
Editing
Style
Editing and Proofreading
Structure
Spelling
Proofreading
Grammar
Punctuation
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Editing and Proofreading Take time to revise your assignment—edit and proofread Just as a good photo can be enhanced on the computer to make it look great...
...a great assignment is written in multiple drafts.
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Editing looks at the essay as a w hole
Editing and Proofreading
Proofreading looks at the details
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Before you start revising: Get some distance Leave it for a day after you have finished the first draft
Find a quiet place
Find a quiet place
Do one section at time
Find a quiet place Get someone else to read your work
Change the look Change the font, line spacing or size
Change the look Editing and Proofreading
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Editing Content
Sources
Editing
Structure
Style
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Content
Content Editing
1. Re-read Your assignment sheet Your criteria (or CRA) sheet Other information from your lecturer / tutor 2. Check that you have specifically answered the question and completed all tasks 3. Write a checklist of all the requirements of your assignment and tick off each item as you complete them
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Structure Editing
Introduction
Body
Structure
Conclusion
The structure should be outlined
Summarize the main point of your assignment State your thesis
Editing and Proofreading
The scope (or limits) should be explained
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Structure Editing
Introduction
Body
Structure
Conclusion
Each paragraph should develop only one idea which is stated in the topic sentence
All points made should be supported by evidence
Editing and Proofreading
Linking words or phrases should be used to create flow between paragraphs
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Structure Editing
Introduction
Body
Structure
Conclusion
The points in the body of your assignment should be summarised Repeat the main point of the assignment Restate your thesis
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Academic Style
Write in the third person Editing
Support statements with evidence.
he she they
me you we
Style
Use a formal, objective tone Focus on facts, not emotion
Consider different points of view
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Academic Style Editing
For Example … Style
Academic style
In a recent study, 67% of young people expressed their aversion to the killing of animals for consumption. However, only 32% of respondents aged over 25 felt the same way (Mitchell, 2007, p.36).
Editing and Proofreading
NOT Academic style
I think that everyone is realising how its really awful the way animals are just slaughtered so that people can have their steak dinners.
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Sources Sources
Editing
Question: Have I indicated the source of every piece of information I have used in my assignment? Information in your assignment requires an in-text citation reference list Sources should be current authoritative Check with your lecturer as to which referencing style to use.
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Proofreading Word choice
Spelling
Proofreading
Grammar
Punctuation
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Word Choice Question: Is my assignment clear in meaning?
Word choice
Proofreading
Be concise Use specialised language where appropriate Avoid words you do not know Remove slang and discriminatory language
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Word choice
Word Choice
Proofreading
Hedging Statements Hedging statements are conclusions that are not absolute and therefore are not as easy to disprove Hedging statements tend to use words such as ‘it maybe…’, it indicates that…, ‘it could be concluded that…’
Editing and Proofreading
Absolute Statement “Today everyone uses credit cards for all their shopping.” Hedging Statement “Many people in society use their credit cards for much of their shopping.”
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Grammar Proofreading
Questions: Are all my sentences complete? Do they all make sense?
Grammar
Every sentence in your assignment should be complete It should contain each of these grammatical elements
The subject – who or what is doing something
The cat
The object – who or what is having something done to it
walked
to
the fridge
The verb– what is being done
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Grammar Read your assignment out loud one sentence at a time
Proofreading
Grammar
Your ears will usually hear when a sentence is not complete Editing and Proofreading
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Grammar Questions: Do my sentences contain only one idea? Are they too long and complicated?
Proofreading
Grammar
A sentence should only have one point. Try not to have a sentence that runs for no more than two or three lines. If it is too long, divide it into more than one sentence.
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Grammar Questions: Do the different elements of my sentences agree?
Proofreading
Grammar
In each of your sentences: The subject and verb should agree – that is, if your subject is singular (one) then your verb should be in the singular form one cat
eg:
singular verb
The cat sits on the couch the cats sit on the couch
more than one cat
plural verb
Nouns and pronouns should match more than one accountant
eg:
Good accountants look out for the interests of his / their clients plural pronoun
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Grammar Proofreading
Grammar
You can find more about the rules on these and other grammar points at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/
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Punctuation Questions: Have I punctuated my sentences correctly? Have I used commas in the right places? Have I used apostrophes for the right reason?
Proofreading Punctuation
Commas are commonly used for separating adjectives e.g. The small, tense and quivering mouse looked up at me. adding an extra phrase into a sentence e.g. The tall man, who wore a red tie, looked over his shoulder. Apostrophes indicate either letter of a word have been left out (contraction) e.g. you’re, who’ll the ownership of something (possession) e.g. Lin’s wallet, the boys’ football Editing and Proofreading
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Punctuation Check your understanding of these and other punctuation points at:
Proofreading Punctuation
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/6/
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Spelling Question: Is my spelling correct?
Spelling
Proofreading
Spelling is the least important part of your assignment, but the most visible. Use a spell checker, but do not just rely on it. Learn to spell the words you use often. Check your work by reading it backwards—you tend to focus less on the meaning of words and more on their spelling.
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Formatting Cover sheet
Check your unit outline and blackboard site for formatting requirements.
Referencing style
Graph size & captions
Editing and Proofreading
Font size
Line spacing & margins
Headings & page numbers
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Photo References (in order of appearance) PAGES 2-5
Nic McPhee, 'Editing a paper - 19 ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nics_events/2349630643/, ed, 2008, pen on page of edited text, lid upright on page. Nic McPhee, 'Editing a paper - 27', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nics_events/2349631689/, ed, 2008, Fountain pen on edited page R. Peschetz, '(Utopia) Before and After ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpeschetz/2611295812/, ed, 2008, building photo before and after photoshopped Wim Mulder, 'Writing to reach you', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wimmulder/15653748/, ed, 2005, holding a pen. Exothermic, 'Flaming Orange Red Autumn Tree', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/exothermic/2041438046, ed, 2007, completely orange red autumn tree Grant MacDonald, 'fall leaf ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantmac/246785658/, ed, 2006, autumn leaf lying on the ground Julian Robinson, 'the Loneliness of the Long distance Cyclist', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/2460263055/, ed, 2008, long road with cyclist in the distance Peter Garnhum., 'Edge of the Monsoon Palace ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/petergarnhum/237427219/, ed, 2006, looking over palace walls to valley below Telstar Logistics, 'Severed 707 Nose Section ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/67555169/, ed, 2005, Severed nose cone of a 707 jet. Rosalie A. Bakar, '5 Tips to help you get the most from proofreading ', In: http://www.ezyblogger.com/2009/05/5-tips-to-help-youget-the-most-from-proofreading/, ed, 2009, black bird reading words on manhole cover T Martins, 'AGR-02RW012-005', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjmartins/3996324066/, ed, 2009, Aerial view of harvester in a field, field half done
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Photo References (in order of appearance) PAGES 6-18
Justin See, 'To-do list book', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/koalazymonkey/3596829214/, ed, 2009, open notebook with pencil skipnclick, 'Pointed question', 2008, hand writing 'what's the point?‘ Patrick Medved, 'Structure ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppix/2305078608/, ed, 2008, steel frame Sarah Macmillan, 'The fence ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/essjay/3952434562/, ed, 2009, sunset through a chain link fence Aftab Uzzaman, 'Pink ball saga ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aftab/4139274434/, ed, 2009, pink golf ball on beach pebbles Eric Lin, 'Support structure for main terrace, park guell', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phonescoop/98402233/, ed, 2006, Columns supporting a mosaic roof Celeste Goulding, 'Wonderful early victorian hand motif bracelet ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perfectjewels/2130677387, ed, 2007, bracelet with ornate links, patterned beads and a hand on the end Elliott Brown, 'Statue of George I outside The Barber Institue of Fine Arts - the horse's tail ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-rbrown/4207405714/, ed, 2009, tail end of statue of horse of King George I. Sarietha, 'Repeating Patterns', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarietha/1794451071/, ed, 2007, A set of lights repeated down a hallway. Light Rail Now, In: http://www.lightrailnow.org/images02/transit-graph-safety-per-pm-avg-2002-04_lrn.gif, ed, A graph of transit safety. Grace Fell, 'Thinking ...' In: 392964271_b4d8fe95e9_o.jpg, ed, 2007, woman, chin on hand, looking up and thinking Leo Reynolds, 'pile of books ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/4077733692/, ed, 2009, pile of books Antony Chammond, 'Hedging my bets at Penshurst Place', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8525214@N06/2918055523/, ed, 2008, tall hedge with a doorway cut out of it justmakeit, '265/27 Sock Tragedies ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelpasch/2231096694/, ed, 2008, Three unfinished knitted socks C Koay, 'Venus de Milo ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceekay/358327527/, ed, 15 January, 2007, statue of Venus de Milo James Thompson, 'Cut Cake ', 2006, cream sponge cake with piece cut out of it
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Photo References (in order of appearance) PAGES 19-25
Sarah Charlesworth, 'Train runs up the west side of the Exe estuary ', In: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1285794, ed, 2009, Train running through fields with cows in foreground Enrique Burgos, 'customer-loyalty_retention ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enriqueburgosgarcia/3364250371/, ed, 2009, two stylized people shaking hands Leo Reynolds, 'comma', 2006, comma yellow on green with link pattern Stephen Lock, 'Spelling', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephendl/2212818035/, ed, 2008, colourful plastic letters of the alphabet jumbled Rick Kirby, 'Formation', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21804434@N02/3476321942/, ed, 2003, sculpture of six women with arms outstretched.
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