EPN (Proofreading)

PROOFREADING:

Proofreading involves checking for grammatical and punctuation errors, spelling mistakes, etc.  Proofing is the final stage of the writing process.

When proofreading, you may want to try the following strategies.

    Read each sentence aloud as you visually inspect the spelling and sentence structure; sometimes, reading the sentence aloud will allow you to spot mistakes that your eye can’t always see.

  Allow enough time for several close readings of the text, with some break time in between to give you a fresh perspective on your document.
 
 Ask friends to read over your work to check for errors as an additional strategy; sometimes, outside readers can spot errors that the writer can miss.  However, don’t rely on this as a primary proofing strategy: your proofreader doesn’t have anything invested in your report.  You do, and are the one ultimately responsible for errors. 

Don’t rely on your computer’s spell check to correct all the spelling errors for you. 

EPN (EDITING)

EDITING:

Editing involves looking at each sentence carefully, and making sure that it’s well designed and serves its purpose.

You can begin the process of editing after you’re satisfied with the structure, content, and coherence of your document (as a whole and in specific parts).

Editing and proofing both focus on the sentence level.  Editing is different from proofreading because it involves questioning and analyzing sentences, whereas proofreading only involves checking them for error.  When editing:

    Read each sentence carefully and identify its function in the paragraph; ask yourself how you might redesign the sentence to more effectively accomplish that goal
    Analyze the sentences that precede and follow the sentence you’re focusing on.  Are the connections between these sentences clear, or do you need to insert transitions between them?
  
Evaluate the design of each individual sentence; in doing so, employ the following principles:

1. Manage Sentence Length
2. Strengthen the Grammatical Core of the sentence (Subject-Verb-Object)

EPN (Revising)

 REVISING:

Revision involves analyzing the global level and paragraph level organization of the document, and making changes to your draft on a global, paragraph, and sentence level to ensure that:

    The document addresses its purpose
    The document supports any claims its makes (main claims and secondary claims)
    The structure of the document is logical and supports the purpose and main claims
During revision, take the following steps:
1. Confirming Purpose and Main Claim
2. Identifying and Checking Support for Major Claims
3. Check Against Your Outline
4. Identify and Evaluate Transitional Strategies
5. Checking on a Paragraph level.