How to Proof Read a Final Paper Draft

Tips to Guarantee a Higher Grade on a College Research Essay

May 8, 2009

Good paper topics are meaningless if the paper is not well written and properly documented; following a concise proofreading plan will eliminate careless errors.

Proofreading and editing a paper can often mean the difference between getting an “A” or losing points because of careless errors yet few students take this step seriously. Most students tend to write the paper days, even hours, before the due date and either have no time to proofread or feel satisfied with the one and only draft. Many students simply want to put the assignment behind them and avoid revisiting their writing.

First Steps in Proofreading a Paper

Even before the paper is completed, students should reread paragraphs as they are written to look for errors like misspellings, inappropriate commas and semi-colons, and other grammatical issues that affect clarity. If the paper is being written over several days, students should reread the entire completed writing before moving on to the next paragraphs.

Computer “spell check” programs often miss words that may sound alike, are spelled in a similar way, but have a different meaning. For example, Tsar Alexander II emancipated the Russian “serfs,” not “surfs.” The Supreme Court issued a ruling in the “Dred Scott” Decision, not the “Dread” Scott Decision.

Printing the Final Draft

Although most students are accustomed to reading their work on-line before submitting it, (which can also be an on-line process) printing the paper and then rereading will catch more errors. Most students read on-line writing differently than having the printed copy in front of them. On-line reading is faster, as students adept at clicking down a page read rapidly.

Using a red or green pen to identify errors helps and it is always advisable to read the paper out loud. This will also catch errors. Finally, ask a friend or family member to read the paper.

Chronology and Clarity

Proofreading should involve the overall dynamics of the paper. If it is a history paper, are all supporting examples chronological? For example, if the paper is about the decade of the 1850s in the United States, it should begin with the Compromise of 1850 and end with the raid on Harpers Ferry.

Clarity involves good paragraph organization, crisp, clear sentences rather than elongated run-on constructions, and proper grammatical usage. Students should always consider the audience, in this case a professor.

Proofing the final draft might take as long as actually writing it, if done properly. Students should develop a check list to ensure that every aspect of the finished paper complies with the assignment as well as the rules of grammar.

Common Errors to Avoid

The conclusion may be the hardest part of the paper to write. Too often students add information in the conclusion. The conclusion should never introduce new information that was not mentioned earlier in the paper.

Similarly, it is often tempting to add interesting anecdotes in the paper even though they may not be relevant to the thesis. A paper on Shakespeare’s Macbeth should not deviate with several paragraphs devoted to witches.

Another pitfall is the use of extended biography. A 7-page paper on the “Causes of the Mexican-American War” should not begin with 3 pages of biography on James K. Polk.

Proofreading can often mean a complete rewrite of the paper, deleting non-relevant material and adding entirely new paragraphs. But for students that want the highest possible grade, the effort is worthwhile.

The copyright of the article How to Proof Read a Final Paper Draft in Study Skills is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish How to Proof Read a Final Paper Draft in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.