Revising: Rereading and Proofing

If you pace yourself, you’ll have a few minutes left to look over your work. Check that your ideas are clear and hang together. Add sentences where new ones are needed. If you recall a key point, add a paragraph on a blank left-hand page. Just draw an arrow to show where it goes. Naturally, more errors occur when you write under pressure than when you have time to proofread carefully. Simply add words with carets (^) or neatly strike them out.

When your paper or blue book is returned, consider these questions as you look it over so that you improve your essay-exam skills:

ESSAY EXAM CHECKLIST

  • Did you answer the whole question, not just part of it?
  • Did you stick to the point, not throw in unrequested information?
  • Did you make your general statements clear by citing evidence or examples?
  • Did you proofread for omissions and lack of clarity?
  • On what questions do you feel you did a good job, whatever your grade?
  • If you had to write this exam over again, how would you now go about it?