Conducting quality control by using an editing sheet

After completing my draft, I conducted quality control by using the editing sheet that I put together using the main points of Professor Volek’s writing rubric and the writing principles that I have learned from reading Skene, Swales and Feak. What I did was to read my draft using the basic guidelines of critical reading and assessed my work based on the following criteria:

EDITING SHEET

1. Thesis

• Clearly outline the thesis with the statement.
• Provide compelling arguments to support the stance with utmost clarity through evidence-supported statements.

2. Development

• Develop the points logically to come across clear and convincing.
• After an introduction to the claim, refer to adequate citations to back the claims up and write in utmost detail the reasons for doing so.
• Conclude by summing up all the points that have been discussed in the paper.

3. Research

• Ensure to research sufficient evidences to back the claims up.

 4. Style

•  The paper has to be well organized and the ideas are presented cogently and effectively.
• Ensure the content is critical and integrative.

 5. Readability

• Be careful not to include unnecessary jargon that may confuse the average reader.
• Ensure the paper maintains a mix of informative and persuasive tone which is apt for the intended audience.
• Make sure the in-depth analysis of the paper shows a strong sense awareness of the topic.

6. Cohesion

• There should be a clear connection throughout the essay.
• Ensure that all of claims are well connected to the theme of your paper.
• The transitions from one sentence to another has to be clear throughout the paper.
• Make good use of transitions like “further/also/moreover”, “it is said”, “yet/despite/nonetheless”, “indeed”, etc. to link each idea to the detail.

7. Conclusion

• Ensure to articulate a convincing defence of the thesis.
• Have an insightful closure and a compelling recommendation or call to action.

 9. Grammar and spelling

• Edit the draft and ensure there are no fragmentedor run-on sentences.
• Avoid a sentence that rambles on and on, ending up with a comma splice or a fused sentence. Break the sentence, if necessary, and link them with lexical connectors.

 10. MLA format

• Format the paper in MLA style following the MLA Formatting and Style Guide found in the Owl Purdue website: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
• Conduct quality control using the MLA sample: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_paper.html

Once I was satisfied with my initial draft, I finalized it and submitted to Professor Volek for corrections and also uploaded it for peer review.

Works Cited

Purdue Writing Lab. “MLA Formatting and Style Guide // Purdue Writing Lab.” Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html.

Skene, Allyson. “Writing a Critical Review.” The Writing Centre, University of Toronto, utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.twc/files/resource-files/CritReview.pdf.

Swales, John M., and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills. The University of Michigan Press, 2012.