Proofing your Assessments
Study Skills Handbook
As you gear up for your next assessment, mastering the art of proofreading is key to ensuring your hard work shines through. In this month's edition, we dive into the essential steps to proof your assessments effectively and elevate your academic performance.
To begin, consider relocating to a fresh setting for a focused proofreading session. Find a place that is not your usual study space where you can concentrate on refining your work. Bring along the assessment criteria and question prompts to guide your review. Your initial proof should encompass the following key factors:
Confirm that your assessment aligns with the specified word limit. Identify any excess words that may need trimming to meet requirements.
While spell check can be helpful, don't rely solely on it. Look out for common errors like 'form' instead of 'from' that may slip through automated checks.
Verify that all sources for visuals, examples, and quotes are properly cited and listed to support your arguments.
Criteria / Questions Answered
Review the assessment criteria and ensure that your responses directly address the requirements. Tick off each criterion as you confirm its coverage in your work.
It’s easy to repeat points, double check you haven’t done this.
It’s not uncommon to write unnecessary information. Do you have points that don’t really answer the question? Have you written clearly? Is there any information you could leave out? Is there any information that you realise needs to be added?
This is where you need to finalise which words you will bold, highlight, underline etc. so your assignment clearly identifies the main points. Bolding can let the teacher see clearly that you have covered all the parts of the question, that there is a sequence of ideas and you have organised the information well.
2nd Proof
The next day repeat the above steps, but this time - READ YOUR ASSIGNMENT OUT LOUD! If you didn’t print your assignment to proof the first time, now could be the time. Reading and hearing the words spoken in different mediums can sometimes give a new perspective to your writing. Note down any changes you need to make.
3rd Proof
It’s always a good idea to ask someone to proof your assignment after you have proofed it first. It is common for the writer not to pick up typos or silly mistakes because they know what they meant and see the words they intended to write, and not the errors. So recruit a proof reader (parent, relatives, older sibling or friend etc.) to gain fresh insights.
Remember, meticulous proofreading is a valuable skill that can elevate the quality of your work and set you on the path to academic success.
Students can learn more about being more effective with assessments in the ASSIGNMENT SKILLS unit of www.studyskillshandbook.com.au located on the Student SharePoint using their school log in details.