Writing Accuracy Checklist

Writing Accuracy Checklist Name:______

Proof-reading is a specialised skill. It requires close attention to detail. It is very easy to see what you think you wrote and not what is actually on the page when you read over your writing. Below are some common errors students make. Have someone you trust read you work and tick the boxes/ make suggestions where your draft needs work.

Spelling

Use a dictionary!

Note/ suggestion:

Punctuation – You need to use:

Full-stops

Capitals

Commas

Question marks

Apostrophes (for possession and contraction)

Quotation or speech marks (all punctuation to do with the sentence being spoken goes within the speech marks. “How are you?”)

Note/ suggestion:

Grammar– You need to:

Stay in the same tense

If you start using the past tense (had, went, saw), check that you haven’t switched to the present tense (She walked in to the room and threw her bag down. Suddenly Dave will walk in. Should be walked=past tense because the verbs in the previous sentence are in past tense). Decide which verb tense you want to use and use it throughout the writing.

Note/ suggestion:

Sentences – You need to:

Use a variety of types/lengths

Make them shorter (use full stops)

Make them longer (use commas instead of full stops)

Make them clearer

Vary your sentence beginnings

Avoid too many ideas in one sentence

Note/ suggestion:

Paragraphing

Too long

Too short

You don’t use them

Your ideas are muddled (re-order paragraphs)

You have more than one idea in a paragraph

You haven’t started a new line for each new speaker in dialogue

Note/ suggestion:

Description

You tell rather than show

You haven’t used imagery and figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration etc)

‘Meh’ - clichéd and pedestrian

Enliven your diction - use words that are not so dull or ineffective

Appeal to the senses

Use a thesaurus!

Note/ suggestion:

Structure

No clear beginning, middle and ending

Confusing, ideas do not flow logically

Lacks development of plot

Lacks development of setting

Lacks development of character

Beginning is not effective in drawing reader into writing

Ending is rushed and ineffective

Note/ suggestion:

Other:

GO BACK AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS. Good luck!