How to Write Better Essays

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34 Revising the content

In this chapter you will learn:

• about the importance of checking factual accuracy, spelling and
  grammar;


• how to make the revision of your style simple and straightforward,
  yet comprehensive;


• how to make your writing more vivid;


• how to use the checklists to make sure you haven’t overlooked
  anything;


• about the importance of the appearance of your essay to the final
  mark.

In the next two revisions your attention shifts to the smaller questions,

like factual accuracy, grammar, and the use of words. Although this

means you’ll be focusing on fewer things, this is a more meticulous

and slower read.

Third revision – checking the details

In the third revision your concern is for the accuracy of your facts and

quotations. Particular care needs to be taken in checking these. If you

lose your readers’ trust over these details it may infect all of your work.

They may conclude that they must be cautious about everything you say.

In addition, you will also be checking your spelling and grammar.

You must be sure that if you break the rules of grammar, it’s deliber-

ate – that you’re doing it for reasons of style, to produce a certain effect

• and it’s not the result of a lack of knowledge. But whether you keep
  to the rules or decide to break them, the key is clarity: it must be the
  best way of making your meaning clear.

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