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WRITER’S CHECKLIST

Click each checklist item to read more about it.

Revising, Editing, and Proofreading

Did you think about how your audience, purpose, and subject might have changed since you planned and drafted your document or site?

In editing your draft, did you check to see that

the design is effective?

the draft meets your readers’ expectations?

the draft is honest and adheres to appropriate legal standards?

you come across as reliable, honest, and helpful?

you have not omitted anything listed on your original outline?

the organization of the draft is logical?

the emphasis is appropriate throughout the draft?

the arguments are well developed?

the elements of the draft are presented consistently?

the paragraphs are well developed?

the sentences are clear and correct?

the graphics are used appropriately?

you archived your earlier draft before you started, using a logical file-naming system?

Did you proofread your draft carefully, looking for minor problems such as

inconsistent spelling and punctuation?

incorrect word endings?

repeated or missing words?

Usability Evaluations

Did you, if appropriate,

survey or interview users?

observe users using your existing document or site?

interview SMEs and usability experts?

conduct focus groups?

use a commercial usability service?

Usability Tests

Did you prepare for the usability test by

making efforts to understand your users’ needs?

determining the purpose of the test?

staffing the test team?

setting up the test environment?

developing a test plan?

carefully selecting participants?

preparing the test materials?

conducting a pilot test?

Did you conduct the usability test effectively by

interacting appropriately with the participant?

obtaining informed consent?

debriefing the participant?

Did you interpret and report the test data by

tabulating the information?

analyzing the information?

reporting the information?