Editing strategies

Re-read the assignment brief and revisit your introduction: 

• Have you told the reader/indicated to the listener what you are going to do? 

Here’s an example of what we mean:

‘This report has been divided into two parts. The first part deals with… while the second…’.  

You can find more examples in the section ‘Outlining the structure of the paper or dissertation’ in the Academic Phrasebank. You can adapt these phrases for a presentation.  

• Does what you are going to do match what you are being asked to do in the assignment brief? 

For the main body paragraphs/sections/slides ask yourself: 

1. What’s this part about? Is it relevant? 
2. Am I covering one idea only? 
3. What’s the point in including this information? 
4. Have I got evidence to support the information? 
5. Is it clear how this information helps to answer the question? 

Revisit your conclusion: 

• Does your conclusion give an answer to the assignment brief? 

• Does it summarise and link together each of the ideas from the main body of your work? 

Review your introduction and then revisit your main body: 

Check the order that you told the reader/indicated to the listener that the information would be delivered in.   

• Does the information in the main body follow the order you indicated? 

 Reorder either your paragraphs or the order given in the introduction if necessary.

For the main body paragraphs/sections/slides ask yourself: 

• Do you have a link between the idea you have just presented and the one that follows? 

 Stuck for ideas? Use the Academic Phrasebank sections ‘Moving from one section to the next’ and ‘Moving from one section to the next, indicating addition or contrast’ for inspiration. 

Revisit your conclusion: 

• Do you have any information that is NEW (hasn’t been referred to in the main body)?  

 If you have new information, remove it.