smart editing and proofing, spring 2014
DESCRIPTION
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SMART EDITING AND PROOF READING
Dr. Chris McMillan -ASK Academic Skills
Objectives
Discuss the distinction between editing and proofreading
Consider how to approach the writing process
Learn different editing techniques
Develop a plan to identify your typical errors and watch out for them
Writing: A Process
Writing doesn’t just happen when your fingers hit the keyboard, nor finish when you have reached the word count
Instead, writing is a layering process whereby you can constantly improve your structure and expression
Editing… Proofreading… …is about actively improving your writing in terms of both form and content.
Ideas Arguments Logic Style Clarity ‘Flow’
…is mostly about catching the small errors and inconsistencies.
Spelling Grammar Repetition Typos Consistency
(reference style, abbreviations, etc)
Drafting
It is difficult to think about how you are writing whilst you are writing
Ensure that you know what you want to say, how it needs to be said, and where you want to go before you commence
Once in a rhythm, try to keep writing until you begin to lose coherence
The importance of editing
It is more important that you are a good editor than a good writer
Knowing that you have the opportunity to fix your allows you to write more freely
I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter. - James Michener, prolific American novelist
Editing Toolkit
Checking for sentence logic
Signposting language Avoiding repetition
Checking for paragraph structure
The SEE paragraph The say/do test
Checking for argument structure
Maintaining a focus
Checking sentence logic
Read your work like someone who has never read it before.
Make the connections from sentence to sentence explicit – too often in student writing such connections are only implicit.
Okay, how?
Use effective signposting language. To show a contradiction: However, although, nonetheless, on the other hand, by contrast, but To show similarity or addition: Similarly, furthermore, likewise, as well, besides, further, moreover, and To indicate a result or conclusion: Therefore, thus, consequently, as a result To reformulate or sum up points or ideas: In short, ultimately, to sum up, in other words
www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk
www.visualthesaurus.com iate.europa.eu
Checking sentence logic
Do a repetition check. Look for repeated words or phrases.
Firstly, I will discuss the theory of transactional analysis. Transactional analysis was developed by Eric Berne during the late 1950s. Transactional analysis is an integrative educational approach that involves looking inward at human personality. Transactional analysis was developed by Eric Berne during the late 1950s; it is an integrative educational approach that involves looking inward at human personality.
Checking for paragraph structure
S E E
Statement
Evidence
Explanation
= TOPIC SENTENCE
= References or experiences
One-sentence paragraph
= Significance
The Say/Do Test
What does this paragraph SAY?
What does this paragraph DO?
Can you summarise it in one sentence? If you can’t your reader won’t be able to either.
It outlines x issue It furthers my
argument It provides essential
background/examples It actually just repeats
what the previous paragraph says…
Maintaining focus
Writing is a mode of thinking and thus your ideas may shift whilst you are writing
Ensure that your writing states its purpose and has a clear argument
A lot of the editing process involves restructuring your paragraphs to maintain this focus
Linking Paragraphs
Establishing links between paragraphs ideas ensures continuity
There are two effective ways to do so;
Repetition of key terms
Using ‘signposting terms’
Avoid ‘narrating your progress’
Linking Ideas: Paragraphs
Statement/Topic sentence
Evidence or Examples
Explanations and Reasoning
Evaluation/Transition: So what?
Statement/Topic sentence
Evidence or Examples
Explanations and Reasoning
Evaluation/Transition
Topic Sentence
S
E
E
In the tea industry, which relies heavily on reputation and taste over trend, the benefits of direct and organic marketing far outweigh the more traditional elements of the marketing mix. Direct marketing can provide a more personal service (Fill, 2005), whilst organic marketing can provide a sense of community and allows contact and the transferring of knowledge with customers (Ghambari, 2008). In considering community in marketing strategy, Booms and Bitner (1981) suggest an extended marketing mix including people as a key element. This emphasises the impact of culture on the success of the tea industry, and in turn allows for the inclusion of cultural practices in marketing strategy development.
These cultural practices, however, are often highly
differentiated, especially within the tea industry. Here it is…
Conversely, cultural practices are often highly differentiated, especially within the tea industry. Here it is
Proof-Reading
Proof-reading should be the final stage in the process
It is only at this stage that you should look for perfection
Be aware of the errors YOU make
Read for errors, not to confirm perfection
Top Tips for Proofing
Leave enough time for a ‘cooling off’ period – you will catch a lot more if you take a day off
Print your work out – we tend to see mistakes better when the writing is on paper
Have someone else read it Read it aloud to a friend or yourself Start at the end and work backwards,
sentence by sentence
Develop a plan
Write down 3-5 specific mistakes you tend to make, or issues you’d like to improve upon in your writing.
What steps can you take to remedy these problems?
Consider your writing process specifically – what can be improved?
Further assistance
Contact ASK at [email protected] or see http://www.brunel.ac.uk/library/ask Watch our writing videos Come by our drop-ins, Mon-Fri 1 – 6 pm (From next week) Friday: ASK Writing Drop-In 11am-3pm in the Workshop Room