Editing the Assignment

Once a first draft of an assignment has been completed, using your planned structure and collected research materials, some further reflection on the content of your work is required. You will need to reflect again on the content of your work.

Leave time for editing

It is imperative that you leave sufficient time to edit assignments. This will allow greater opportunity to reflect on the content of the work, the way in which it is structured, and whether it addresses all criteria and requirements. Ask these questions of your assignment Does the introduction: 

  • Clearly indicate the topic?
  • State the aim of the assignment?
  • Identify limits or scope?
  • Outline the structure of the essay?
  • Explicitly state my thesis, argument or position?

Does each paragraph: 

  • Contain one main idea? Is it clearly stated in the topic sentence?
  • Contain a concluding sentence? Does it link the point of the paragraph to the argument?

Does the conclusion only: 

  • Restate the argument?
  • Reiterate all of the main points used in developing the argument?

In addition to the above: 

  • Is the argument developed clearly throughout the assignment?
  • Does the evidence used clearly support the argument?
  • Have I acknowledged all the sources of information?
  • Does the reference list include all in-text references?
  • Have I checked expression, spelling and punctuation?
  • Is the essay the required length? (word count)
  • Have I checked the assignment guidelines, including the assessment criteria?

Presentation

Always refer to the criteria and presentation/style requirements set by the course convenor and the school. These should be set out in the course outline and/or other course materials available to you. Some things to remember:

  • Write the final draft paying attention to the presentation requirements set by the course convenor.
  • Use the spelling check and grammar check function on your computer.
  • Ask a friend to proofread – the computer spelling and grammar check facilities are not always
  • 100% accurate! Another person will also be better able to identify problems of readability and expression.