Prime Time 8. Coursebook plus Semester Self-checks, Schulbuch

Revising and proofreading Revising a text means making necessary changes to it so that every word, sentence and paragraph makes sense to the reader. Many students tend to rush through revising; they are anxious to get done with the task. To get the best possible result, however, you will need to revise as much as necessary before handing in the text. Read your text out loud (in an exam of course “in your head”) as this helps you to highlight any general problems with structure and style. Revision is global, taking another look at which ideas you have included in your text and how they are arranged focusing on improving the content. Proofreading, on the other hand, is polish- ing spelling, grammar, sentence structure and punctuation – one spot at a time. That is why revision should come before proofreading: Why polish something you might be changing anyway? You should consider three areas in particular to improve the content and style of your text: • • Clarity: Is the text clearly and logically written? • • Unity: Do all the paragraphs relate to the central idea? • • Coherence: Do the ideas flow smoothly? Checklist revision • • Does the text cover everything the prompt asked for? • • Does each paragraph (especially introduction and conclusion) fulfil its specific function? • • Will a reader be able to follow the essay? • • Do all the facts, examples and reasons support the central idea? • • Are the sentences clear and effective? Checklist proofreading • • Check the following aspects for mistakes: spelling/capitalisation, punctuation, word order, grammar, irregular verb forms, misused or invented words • • Look out for the following weaknesses: lack of logic, information gaps, clumsy style, sentence length, exces- sive repetition, vague adjectives, inappropriate idioms • • Does the text use correct paragraphing and indentation? • • Are there any sentences that could be combined to provide sentence variety? • • Does the text show interesting and accurate word choice? Improving your style Connecting ideas Short simple sentences are easier to read and understand than complex ones, but to make your writing fluent you need to connect them. 3 1 Useful phrases To add information: and • also • as well as • moreover • too • furthermore • in order to To give ideas or events a sequence: firstly • secondly • thirdly • finally • then • next • meanwhile • afterwards • while • eventually To compare: equally • likewise • as with • like • in the same way • similarly To contrast: although • whereas • instead of • alternatively • otherwise • or else • unlike • but • on the other hand • having said that • even if • in spite of • alternatively To show cause and effect: because • since • so (that) • therefore • thus • as a result • in order to • consequently To further explain an idea: however • unless • except • apart from • yet • if • provided that • as long as • nevertheless • actually • besides To emphasise: above all • in particular • especially • significantly • indeed • notably To give examples: for example • such as • in the case of • as revealed by • namely • for instance P 175 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv