Hot Tips (little things make a big difference)

There are a number of simple things you can do to help improve the quality of your papers.

• ALWAYS proofread your essay on a hard copy.  It’s very difficult to proof on a computer monitor.
• Read your essay out loud.  You will be surprised at grammar errors your ear will pick up even if you don’t understand all the rules.  When you read out loud, it is also easier to edit for clarity.  (What makes sense in your head as you silently read to yourself does not always translate in the writing – especially to a reader who is not you.)
• Have a friend read your essay out loud.  If they are stumbling over sentences, it’s a sign they might need editing.
• Having a hard time organizing your paragraphs or ideas?  Obviously, you can do a written outline on a piece of paper or word doc.  But I find it very useful to print my draft, take scissors and cut each paragraph apart.  Then, sequester a big/long table at the library and lay your paragraphs out so you can easily re-shuffle.  (Sometimes it’s easier to see ALL your information at once when it’s not on the computer screen.) When you have re-assembled your information, stack up those cut-outs (in order) and go back to your computer to cut and paste.
• The word “that” is overused and often does not add any clarity to your sentence.  Look through you paper and cut “that” whenever possible.
• Writing is all about RE-writing.  I had to proofread and edit this short blog post no less than three times. Each time I found typos as well as sentences needing further clarity.  (And it could still use some tweaking!)