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Perfect Proofreading This article was originally written for college applicants, however the writing tips are valuable for other types of writing as well. Proofreading must always begin with the writer. Putting together a polished personal statement demands that you take the time to brainstorm, create rough drafts, get a second opinion, and proofread. Keep in mind that you should NEVER proofread immediately after finishing your rough draft. Instead, put your work aside for at least 24 hours, and forget about it. This way you will be a bit more removed from your work, and better able to identify problems. For better proofreading, follow the five steps below: 1. Look at your work as a whole.
Is your composition cohesive? Is every singe word critical to the main point that you are making? Are the ideas in good, logical order? Have you developed ideas in correct proportion to their importance? 2. Examine the structure of each paragraph.
Are your paragraphs concise and to the point? Does every paragraph contain a topic sentence, a supporting sentence, and a concluding (or transitional) sentence? 3. Review sentence structure.
Have you included a variety of sentence structures? If your essay is loaded down with endless amounts of long, convoluted sentences, break some of them up. If your entire essay consists of short, simplistic sentences, join some of them together. Varying your sentence structure creates a more engaging and readable essay. 4. Read your essay out loud.
In addition to helping you to uncover typographical errors, reading your essay out loud will enable you to identify awkward or incorrect phrasing. It is important that you read SLOWLY, otherwise your mind may read into the essay, entirely missing various types of errors. 5. Have an second party read your work.
Because you are so closely tied to your work, it is important that you have an objective reader analyze your work. While the opinions of your friends and parents are of value, these people are not ideal second party critics. They are too close to you, and may fear being overly critical, or be so eager to show their support that they miss vital mistakes. It is best to have your work analyzed by a unbiased professional, such as one of EssayWorks’ Counselors. Need professional writing? Inquire about DivaDesignWorld's affordable copywriting services.
About the Author: Monique Danielle owns Portland Marketing Agency, DivaDesignWorld.com, a full service firm that offers web development, graphic design, consulting, and a wide variety of creative services. She is also the founder of divadirectories.com,a free online resource designed to promote the growth and development of female business owners throughout Oregon, Washington, and the Northwest.
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