Get some feedback

1. Edit the Essay

The editing process is where you read over your essay carefully, checking for accuracy in concepts, ideas and arguments. When editing, you should also make sure that your essay is logically ordered, cohesive and coherent, and that all elements such as thesis statements and topic sentences connect and support each other. Some sentences may need rewriting, some pieces of evidence removing, or some ideas and arguments changing altogether. The most important thing when editing is that you’re not afraid to make changes to your writing. If a sentence, paragraph or even section of your essay is unconvincing or beyond fixing, then simply discard it and start again. Remember also that the editing process is not a one-time event. You’ll likely need to edit your essay multiple times throughout the writing process to get that writing to the best of your ability.

Don't hand in your first draft - most essays are dramatically improved by careful redrafting and editing.

Get some feedback

Get some feedback on your essay draft. Ask a friend, parents, or colleague to read it and comment, then make your own corrections based on the feedback.

If you need advice, make an appointment with a Peer Writing Assistant at The Learning Centre.

Sleep on it

If possible, put your essay aside for a few days before you try to edit. This gives you time to think further about your answer and arguments and return to your work with a fresh perspective.

Don’t panic if you find faults in your essay—this is part of the process. If you find that you need more information, or your argument has holes in it, keep calm and concentrate on fixing the problem.

Once you have a well-organised and complete draft:

Check the overall structure of your essay; does it have a clear introduction, body and conclusion?

Make sure that each paragraph has a clear main point that relates to the argument. Make sure that the paragraphs are arranged in logical sequence.
Make sure that you have explained the evidence you use and integrated it appropriately.
Revise sentences. Make sure the words you use mean what you think they mean.
Check punctuation and spelling. A good dictionary is a useful tool.
Check transition signals. Be sure that a reader can follow the sequence of ideas from sentence to sentence, and from paragraph to paragraph.
Questions to ask yourself
Have I answered the question as directly and comprehensively as possible?
Does the argument make sense? Is it well balanced and researched?
Is the evidence relevant to and supportive of my argument?
Have I used a consistent referencing style?
Have I referenced all my quotes and paraphrases?
If there were any special instructions or guidelines for this assignment, have I followed them?
Have I remained within the set word limit?