This is the step that begins with writing your final draft.
AUDIENCE: My favorite professor in college told students that you should pretend that you are going to write your paper, and then drop it in the parking lot on your way to class. Could anyone who picked up your paper and read it understand exactly what you are talking about? Writing clearly as if this scenario really were to happen helps ensure that you've communicated all of the relevant information. You know this information -- so your job is to communicate it to others as plainly as possible, so that anyone really can understand it.
Using the comments and help that you received on your rough draft, re-read your paper. It may be useful to read it out loud so that you can hear if something is not making sense. Make those grammatical corrections. Ensure that you are not using slang or repeating information. Remember the acronym FACT:
F: Factual - make sure that your paper uses, and properly cites, factual information.
A: Accurate - make sure that the writing is accurate
C: Concise - do not overwrite -- make your point concisely and in the number of words/pages assigned
T: Truthful - it is possible, and even easy, to skew facts. Make sure your paper does nto intentionally do that.
Is your topic clearly stated in the introduction? If not, please make sure that you make known what you are trying to get across right upfront. Do you have an evident introduction, ample body, and sufficient closing?
Have you quoted excessively? Generally, no more than 15 to 20 percent of any given information should be quoted from a source. Your job is to distinctly relay your knowledge. Acquaint your readers with the information in a relatable way.
Does the whole paper flow? Did you go off on any side trips that should be eliminated? If you had to repeat this information from memory, do you know it well enough that you could do that? Make sure that the person who picks it up in the parking lot won't be left scratching his or her head.
Finally: SAVE SAVE SAVE! Save your paper to a couple of places in case you need it again, for any reason. Save your sources as well, as they could be useful later.
Good luck on making the grade!
