{"id":67037,"date":"2018-09-07T18:05:12","date_gmt":"2018-09-07T18:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/?p=67037"},"modified":"2018-09-07T18:05:12","modified_gmt":"2018-09-07T18:05:12","slug":"editing-an-essay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/editing-an-essay\/","title":{"rendered":"Editing an Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process of writing an essay can be excruciatingly painful. Many have an overwhelming instinct to flee when the first draft is finally complete, which results in them forgoing the editing process altogether. Skipping this essential step will cause your overall grade to plummet. Since you have already completed the most difficult part, why not perfect your writing so that the final product reflects your efforts? If your immediate response is that editing an essay is too chaotic and overwhelming, then the SchoolTutoring Academy has got you covered. To save you from further frustration we have outlined a step-by-step editing guide for all high school students. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>1. Targeted Grammatical Readings<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mechanical errors are difficult to spot, unless of course your teacher has already circled them in bright red pen! The good new is that once you spot them, these small yet detrimental mistakes are actually the easiest to fix. Continually reading your piece in its entirety, while only focusing on one specific grammatical component each time through, is the perfect solution. You will be a more efficient editor by targeting your search instead of reading aimlessly. Below is a list of the most common errors you should seek to eliminate immediately. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-67039\" src=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting2-80x80.jpg 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>first\/second person pronouns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Remember that essays are a formal representation of your ideas so you need to write in the third person. This means that <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">we <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are prohibited, unless they are apart of a direct quote. Creative ways to avoid these pronouns include the use of: one, society, humanity, those who, it is widely agreed upon etc. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>incorrect tense: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, English essays are written in the literary present since the work you are analysing is considered timeless. \u00a0History essays however, are primarily written in the past tense because they cover events that are not current. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>contractions &amp; colloquialisms : <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are not allowed in proper writing as they are too informal! <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>unintegrated quotations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simply \u201cdropping\u201d a quote into the middle of a paragraph is grammatically incorrect not to mention poor style as it interrupts the flow of your writing. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>citation mistakes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your work must be cited or it will be considered plagiarized. Use the referencing style specified by your teacher and be sure to look up its regulations if you need a refresher. Purdue Owl is an excellent online resource.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>2.<\/b>\u00a0<b>Body Paragraph Content Reading<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-67040\" src=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting3-80x80.jpg 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>This stage in the editing process is unfortunately the most difficult. With regard to the actual content of an essay, there are no concrete errors as its evaluation is subjective. The best method of revision is to consider each body paragraph separately. Ensure that the topic sentence supports your thesis. This is paramount as the opening line dictates the direction of the entire paragraph. Once the argument has been established, it\u2019s time to strengthen it by ensuring that your proof is relevant and checking that you\u2019ve followed your teacher\u2019s guidelines on the amount of quotes\/facts required. Try evaluating your paragraph on a sentence by sentence basis, always asking yourself what the purpose of each phrase is. \u00a0Remember that description is not enough, you need to have an in-depth analysis that convinces the reader of your topic sentence. This will ultimately prove your thesis. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>3. Intro\/Conclusion Checklist <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-67041 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting4-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting4-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting4-80x80.png 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>Some students struggle with composing a proper introduction and conclusion for their essays. The importance of these paragraphs cannot be overstated as they are responsible for both the first and last impressions of your work overall. Often students are unsure what to write which results in important details being forgotten. At this stage in the editing process you should go through your introduction and conclusion with the following checklists, being sure to add the necessary components. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ordered Essay Introduction Checklist:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a general opening sentence that relates to your topic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an introduction of the topic (include the title &amp; author of the material for an English essay)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">necessary background information (this would be a <\/span><b>brief<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> plot summary for an English essay) <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a segue into your main points with at least one sentence per argument <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your thesis <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Ordered Essay Conclusion Checklist:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">restated thesis (in different words)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a summary of each of your arguments <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">several general sentences that lead to a final thought\/idea you want to leave the reader with<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>4. Read Out Loud<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting5.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-67042\" src=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting5-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting5-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting5-80x80.jpeg 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>Now it\u2019s time for the most enjoyable step in the editing process! Print out a hard copy of your essay and read it out loud in its entirety. Some mistakes that are incredibly difficult to identify on the computer become glaringly obvious when you are listening to yourself speak. Listen carefully for: awkward wording, poor transitions, sentence fragments, and incorrect word choice. The benefits of this exercise are twofold. Since multiple areas of the brain will be engaged, you will be able to spot any double words, missing words, and typos that you would otherwise gloss over when reading in your head. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>5. Peer Edit<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-67043\" src=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting6-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting6-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting6-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/essaywriting6-560x560.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>By this point you likely have your essay almost memorized and the thought of reading it even one more time makes you nauseous. Lucky for you, it\u2019s time to find fresh eyes. Since you are so familiar with what you\u2019ve written, you will no longer be able to spot mistakes. By enlisting a friend (preferably an older, more experienced student) or an adult, you will get a new perspective and important feedback. How you choose to implement their suggestions is entirely up to you. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/english-tutors\/\">English tutoring services<\/a>? Learn more about how we are assisting thousands of students each academic year.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" title=\"SchoolTutoring Academy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.schooltutoring.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SchoolTutoring Academy<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>is the premier educational services company for K-12 and college students. We offer tutoring programs for students in K-12, AP classes, and college. To learn more about how we help parents and students in <a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/Tutors\/OH\/\">Aurora, Ohio<\/a>: visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/tutoring-in-aurora-ohio\/\">Tutoring in Aurora, Ohio.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The process of writing an essay can be excruciatingly painful. Many have an overwhelming instinct to flee when the first draft is finally complete, which results in them forgoing the editing process altogether. Skipping this essential step will cause your overall grade to plummet. Since you have already completed the most difficult part, why not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":67038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3020,2845,2846,3016,3017,2852,1,3018],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-and-grammar","category-essay-and-writing","category-extra-credit","category-learning-methodologies-and-styles","category-resources","category-review","category-study-strategies","category-uncategorized","category-writing-act"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67037\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooltutoring.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}