CHECKLIST FOR WRITING & EDITING ASSIGNMENTS
Understanding the question
What kind of assignment is it? (e.g. essay, research report, case study, reflective journal, law case
notes)
What is the topic? Can I explain the topic in one statement?
What do I have to do? (e.g. discuss, summarise, critically analyse, compare)
Do I understand the assessment marking criteria?
Structure
Does my faculty recommend a particular structure for my assignment?
Does the introduction provide my thesis statement (main argument) and a summary of what I will
discuss?
Does the body of my assignment:
link together well between sentences and paragraphs?
provide clear headings? (Headings are generally used in reports, not in essays)
provide clearly structured paragraphs?
• One main idea for each paragraph
• Clear topic sentences (usually the first sentence)
• Other sentences that support the topic sentence (elaborate, explain, give examples)
Does the conclusion of my assignment link back to the topic area/question?
Does it summarise what I have said and re-state my thesis statement?
Content
Are there enough ideas to answer the question fully? Could anything be added?
Are all the ideas relevant to the assignment question?
Have I taken a position? Can I justify it with examples and evidence from my reading?
Have I demonstrated a critical approach in my writing? (Is this relevant? Is this important?
Is this valid?)
Reading/Referencing
Are the sources that support my ideas current, relevant and reliable? Are they academic?
Am I able to use more than one source to support some of my ideas?
Are in-text references correctly provided using appropriate referencing style? (e.g. Harvard UTS, APA,
Footnote)
Is a complete reference list or bibliography provided?
Are all the in-text citations included in the reference list?
For referencing conventions and use of EndNote/Refworks go to:
[Link]
1
Academic style
Have I chosen formal vocabulary? (e.g. lots of = a considerable amount; bad = unfavourable; stay the
same = stabilise)
Have I used an appropriate academic style?
• Avoid the use of contractions (e.g. don’t/do not)
• Avoid over-use of ‘etc.’
• How certain do I want to be? (e.g. It is certain that…. / It appears certain that… / It is possible
that...)
• Avoid the use of personal language (e.g. Everybody knows… = It is generally accepted… / I think
that… = It is likely that...)
Grammar & vocabulary
Does my writing make sense when I read it aloud (to someone else)?
Have I used any incomplete sentences? (e.g. Because the study is limited.)
Have I used correct and consistent verb tenses?
Is there subject-verb agreement? (e.g. the studies show/the study shows)
Have I used singular/plural forms correctly? (e.g. study/studies)
Have I checked word forms? (e.g. study (noun); studied (verb); studying (noun or verb)
Have I varied my vocabulary to avoid being repetitive? (e.g. The research shows that… / It also shows…
/ It reveals…)
Proofreading
Have I checked for typing, spelling and punctuation errors?
• See the punctuation guide at: [Link]
resources/grammar/punctuation
Have I used the correct spacing, margin, font size and other presentation requirements?
Has the word limit matched the assignment requirements?
Writing guides and online self-help assistance
Various UTS faculties have guides to help you with your writing at: [Link]
For more online assistance with your writing, go to HELPS: [Link]
students/support/helps/writing-support
Or the Study Skills section: [Link]
skills