You might have been working on an essay for ages, or perhaps you’ve knocked out something short in an afternoon. But how do you move from a first to a final, polished draft? Read on to find out!
Starting Out…
Firstly, get the thing written! Don’t procrastinate! Just get on and start writing! Even just doing a little bit every day can quickly add up.
Remember that your first draft is only ever going to be a rough sketch of the final essay. This is why you should leave plenty of time for revising and refining your work!
The Drafting Process
Step One – Delete
Once you have a complete draft, go back over what you have written looking for any errors, repetition or over-long sentences.
It can help at this point to print out your work, as this is easier on your eyes and will help you to spot mistakes you might miss on a computer screen.
Step Two – Rewrite
Look for ways in which things could be said more precisely or succinctly. Try to be as concise as possible and make sure each paragraph flows into the next so your reader can follow your argument. It can help to make notes about the structure of your argument as you go.
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Step Three – Check
Go through and make sure all of your references are correctly formatted (see your university style guide for details on this) and that every source you cite in your essay is included in your reference list. It may seem dull, but you will earn extra marks for a well-referenced essay!
Step Four – Check Again!
Read your essay through several times on paper. Make notes and corrections as you go. You could even try starting from the end and reading backwards, a sentence at a time.
This might seem odd, but being too familiar with the content of your essay will make it harder to find errors. Reading your essay backwards, on the other hand, allows you to see it anew and thus helps you to spot mistakes.
Step Five – Check for the Final Time
Before submitting, make sure you get someone else to read your essay through. Your best option is almost certainly a professional proofreader, so why not get in touch today?