Mike Hannay en J. Lachlan Mackenzie - Effective Writing in English

2 Editing

■■ checking that the paragraphs are of roughly equal length and weight and are properly structured. Level 2 (cf. Chapters 6 to 9) The meso-level: ■■ checking within paragraphs how the information has been divided over sentences, and whether the appropriate grammatical constructions have been used; ■■ checking how the coherence of the text has been reflected in the use of cohesion and punctuation marks. Level 3 (cf. Chapters 10 to 13) The micro-level: ■■ checking within sentences whether the chosen formulations contribute to forceful argumentation; ■■ checking on a range of matters of usage and correct spelling; ■■ checking whether the references to other texts are accurate and properly presented. When editing at Level 1, you are concerned above all with your general impression of the text. Ask yourself whether the reader is likely to find it pleasing and persuasive: ■■ Is it stylistically unified? (A particularly important question if the text has been written at several sittings.) ■■ Is there needless repetition? ■■ Have the key terms been used consistently? ■■ Have I adopted a steady viewpoint? ■■ Does the reader get a clear understanding of what I wish to convey? Having convinced yourself that the text is indeed attractive at the macro-level, you can move on to Level 2, considering your presentation of informa tion and arguments within the various paragraphs: ■■ Is what I have said factually accurate? ■■ Have I provided relevant evidence for my claims? ■■ Is my line of reasoning clear? ■■ Is my reader able to follow me without having to re-read passages? ■■ Is it clear what the main point is of every sentence? Do I need to refor mulate? ■■ Would a new sentence division or changes to the punctuation ease my reader’s processing task? At Level 3, you will be concerned with tidying up your text before preparing it for submission to your readership. This is the stage at which you remove

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