SMART EDITING AND PROOF READING Dr. Chris McMillan -ASK Academic Skills ask@brunel.ac.uk
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… …is about actively improving your writing in terms of both form and content. Ideas Arguments Logic Style Clarity ‘Flow’
Proofreading… …is mostly about catching the small errors and inconsistencies.
Spelling Grammar Repetition Typos Consistency (reference style, abbreviations, etc)
Here’s a hint. Most of what we call ‘the writing process’ is editing. Or it should be…
Organisation
Conception
Proof-reading
Reflection
Drafting
Editing
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
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
Editing Toolkit
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
Group dynamics…
Conversely,…
Furthermore,…
Yet,… Consequently…
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.
S E E
Statement = TOPIC SENTENCE Evidence = References or experiences Explanation = Significance One-sentence paragraph
Checking for paragraph structure
What does this paragraph DO?
What does this paragraph SAY?
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…
The Say/Do Test
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
Using
of key terms
‘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 Conversely, cultural practices are often highlyhighly differentiated, differentiated,especially especiallywithin withinthe thetea teaindustry. industry.Here Hereititis‌ 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 ask@brunel.ac.uk 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