Many times Editing and proofreading require more time than expected this underestimation of time can negatively impact your assignment’s progress. Therefore it is a good idea to allow time for editing and proofreading in your assignment plan. It is extremely important to follow module guidelines and requirements related to referencing, margins, spacing, and font size. 

What is editing?

Editing involves the redrafting of the written content. It includes going through the draft again to check the tone, structure, and content of the written work. The primary purpose of editing is to ensure that the text written follows the coherent flow and expresses ideas clearly and academically. Here is the checklist that needs to be followed during the editing process:

1. Content 

You should ensure that all the elements and learning outcomes of the assignment are present in your draft and the marking criteria have been met. Ensure that all the information that you have provided in the draft is relevant to the questions asked in the assignment. Additionally, also confirm that your assignment is well within the word count. More than or less than 10 per cent of the expected word count is fine however higher variation may lead to a reduction in grades. 

1. Expression

You should ensure that the introduction and conclusion complement each other. The introduction should be able to offer the necessary context and indicate the focus of the assignment. The introduction should be able to engage the reader’s attention. Conclusion, on the other hand, should offer a sense of closure to the assignment and should apply the concept discussed in a wider context. The main points made in the assignments should be drawn together. 

Each paragraph should express one main point or idea and there should be a link between one paragraph to the other. The logical flow of thought should be present throughout the assignment. Information of similar kind should always be kept together. Many students make this mistake where they mention the advantages of the concept discussed in the assignment in one paragraph and after a few paragraphs again mention the advantages. You should also avoid writing too long or wordy sentences.

1. Use of supporting evidence

Ideas and opinions of other researchers should be used and paraphrased. The use of quotes should be checked. Ensure that you have summarized the ideas of researchers in your own words. If direct quotes are written they ensure that they are copied correctly. Ensure that the latest updates are used. For example in an assignment on current trends of farming the data of fertilizer sale of 2000 will not help to justify your point. Theories, concepts, and ideas of other authors should be properly acknowledged. This action serves two purposes first it will save you from plagiarism and secondly offer weightage to your proposed ideas. Supporting evidence used should be updated and appropriate. The use of supporting pieces of evidence helps you to show the best attribute rather than tell. For example, if you mention according to the survey by Irish Housing Market report 2019, 60 per cent of the Ireland population is impacted by the housing crisis will be more effective than a large percentage of the population is facing a severe housing crisis.