Guide for IB Career Programme
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October 9, 2023
Are you looking to improve your grade on that pesky essay? Well, look no further! In this blog post, we will discuss six tips for editing your essay that will help you get the best grade possible.
Editing is an important part of the writing process, and it should not be overlooked. By taking the time to edit your essay, you can make sure that it is polished and ready for submission. Remember that it is vital to edit your IB papers (Internal Assessment, Extended Essay and TOK essay) before submitting them to receive better grade
Let’s get started!
Proofreading your essay is an important step in the writing process, but it can be difficult to catch all of your own mistakes. This is where reading your essay out loud can be helpful!
When you read your essay aloud, you are more likely to notice errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You may also notice places where your argument is unclear or where you have contradicted yourself.
Reading aloud can help you find these mistakes so that you can fix them before turning in your paper.
Reading aloud forces you to slow down and actually process each word that you are reading. This makes it easier to catch errors that you might otherwise overlook.
Additionally, hearing yourself say the words out loud can help you catch instances where you have used the same word too many times in a row or where a sentence is too long and needs to be rewritten for clarity.
Finally, reading aloud can help you get a sense of how well your argument flows and whether or not it makes sense to someone who is hearing it for the first time.
When reading your essay aloud, it is important to read slowly and clearly. Pronounce each word correctly and put emphasis on the important parts of your argument. You may want to read through your essay once without making any changes so that you can get a sense of what needs to be fixed. Once you have done this, go through your essay again and make the necessary changes. Remember to save a copy of your essay before making any changes so that you can go back if needed!
One common piece of writing advice is to “cut the fluff.” This means getting rid of words, phrases, and sentences that don’t contribute anything important to your essay. In other words, you want to make every word count.
But what counts as “fluff”? And how can you cut it without making your writing choppy or losing your voice?
The term “fluff” can mean different things to different people, but when it comes to writing, we generally use it to refer to any words, phrases, or sentences that don’t contribute anything important to the overall point of your essay.
Fluff can take many different forms. A few examples include:
Repetitive or unnecessary information: This includes information that the reader already knows or that doesn’t add anything new to your argument.
Empty phrases: These are phrases that don’t actually say anything meaningful. A few examples are “in order to,” “the fact that,” and “due to the fact that.”
Longwindedness: This refers to unnecessarily complicated or roundabout phrasing. An example might be saying “I observed a marked increase in the number of people who were using their phones while walking” instead of “More people were using their phones while walking.”
Filler words: These are words that don’t contribute anything meaningful to your sentence and can often be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. A few examples are “very,” “really,” and “quite.”
Unsupported claims: These are claims that you make without backing them up with evidence. If you’re making a claim that is controversial or could be seen as subjective, be sure to support it with concrete evidence
Now that we’ve gone over what fluff is and why you should cut it from your writing, let’s talk about how you can actually do it. Here are a few tips:
Use concrete language: Abstract language can often lead to fluff because it’s not specific enough. If you find yourself using a lot of vague terms like “stuff,” “things,” and “it,” see if you can replace them with more specific language. For example, instead of saying “I need to get some things from the store,” you could say “I need to buy bread, eggs, and milk from the grocery store.”
Be aware of filler words: As we mentioned before, filler words like “very,” “really,” and “quite” don’t add anything meaningful to your sentence. See if you can find places where you can remove them without changing the meaning of what you’re trying to say.
Make sure every sentence has a purpose: Every sentence in your essay should contribute something important to your argument. If there’s a sentence that doesn’t seem necessary, see if you can either remove it entirely or combine it with another sentence. For example, instead of saying “John was very tired after his shift at work ended. He went home and went straight to bed,” you could say “John was so tired after his shift ended that he went home and went straight to bed.”
Get rid of empty phrases: We mentioned before that empty phrases like “in order to” and “due to the fact that” don’t actually say anything meaningful. See if you can find places where you can remove them without changing the meaning of what you’re trying to say.
For example, instead of saying “In order to get a good grade on this assignment, I need to make sure I proofread my paper carefully before turning it in,” you could say “To get a good grade on this assignment, I need Proofread my paper carefully before turning it in.”
Check for unsupported claims: As we mentioned before, all claims—especially those that could be seen as controversial or subjective—should be supported with evidence.
If there’s a claim in your essay that doesn’t have any evidence backing it up, try finding some supporting evidence or removing the claim altogether.
Checking for grammar mistakes doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. There are some simple ways to check for grammar mistakes so that you can submit your essay with confidence. We’ll go over three different ways to check for grammar mistakes in your essay.
Use a grammar checker. There are a few different grammar checkers available online, such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor. Simply copy and paste your essay into the text box on the website and let the grammar checker do its job.
Keep in mind that grammar checkers aren’t perfect, so be sure to give your essay a once-over yourself after running it through a grammar checker.
Have someone else read your essay. It can be helpful to have another set of eyes on your essay, especially when it comes to catching grammatical errors. Ask a friend or family member to read through your essay and point out any mistakes they see.
Take a break from your essay and come back later with fresh eyes. After working on an essay for awhile, it’s easy to become blind to your own mistakes. Once you’ve finished writing, take a break from your essay for an hour or two before proofreading it yourself. This will help you catch any mistakes you might have otherwise missed.
A lot of students have trouble with making their sentences clear and concise. After all, it can be tough to know how much detail to include and when to cut something out.
However, by following a few simple rules, you can make sure that your sentences are clear and concise, which will make your essays much better overall. Here are three tips for making your sentences more clear and concise.
When you’re writing, it’s important to use specific and concrete details to support your points. This means that you should avoid using generalities whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “exercise is good for you,” you could say “Regular exercise has been shown to improve heart health.” The second sentence is more specific and concrete, which makes it clearer and more effective.
Another way to make your sentences more clear and concise is to use strong verbs. Verbs are the words that indicate what action is taking place in a sentence. Some verbs are stronger than others; for example, “suggest” is stronger than “say,” “show” is stronger than “tell,” and “prove” is stronger than “indicate.” By using stronger verbs, you can often shorten your sentences while also making them more powerful.
In general, it’s best to be as concise as possible in your writing. This means that you should avoid using unnecessary words or phrases whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “I’m going to buy some new shoes at the store that’s located downtown,” you could just say “I’m going to buy some new shoes downtown.” The second sentence is shorter and gets straight to the point.
Getting feedback on your essay can be essential if you want to improve your grades. Luckily, there are a few different ways that you can get quality feedback on your work.
Ask a Trusted Friend or Family Member
One of the best ways to get feedback on your essay is to ask a trusted friend or family member to read them and give their thoughts. The people who know you best will be able to give you the most honest feedback because they want to see you succeed. Just be sure to take their feedback with a grain of salt; after all, they’re not the ones who will be grading your essay.
Find a Peer Review Group
If you don’t feel comfortable asking someone you know for help, another great option is to find a peer review group. These groups are usually made up of other students who are also looking for feedback on their work. You can often find these groups online or through your school’s writing center.
Hire a Professional Editor
If you’re really serious about getting better feedback on your essays, another option is to hire a professional editor. This is probably the most expensive option, but it’s also the most guaranteed way to get quality feedback. Professional editors are experienced in giving constructive criticism that will help you improve your writing.
Editing and proofreading your essay may seem like a tedious task, but it’s definitely worth taking the time to do. By thoroughly proofreading your work, you can be sure that you’re putting your best foot forward and giving yourself the best chance to succeed.
Why Proofread?
Proofreading is the process of reviewing your work for errors before you submit it. This final step is important for catching any typos or grammatical errors that may have slipped through in the editing process. It’s also a good opportunity to make sure that you’ve followed all of the instructions and that your essay flows well.
Editing your essay can be a daunting task, but following these six tips will help you make the necessary changes to receive the best grade possible. By reading your essay out loud, cutting unnecessary words, checking for grammar mistakes, making sure your sentences are clear and concise, asking someone else to read your essay and give feedback, and proofreading it one last time before submitting it, you can make the editing process less stressful and more effective.
Good luck on your next assignment!
Valerie Green is a dedicated educator who spends her time helping high school and college students succeed. She writes articles and guides for various online education projects, providing students with the tools they need to excel in their studies. Friendly and approachable, she is committed to making a difference in the lives of students.
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