Ten Questions to Ask Yourself (before completing a written assignment)
from: J. Pechenik, A Short Guide to Writing About Biology,
HarperCollins, 1987, inside front cover.
- Have I completely understood what I have done, read, or been told?
- Are my notes accurate and do they distinguish between my thoughts
and words and those of the author(s)?
- Does my opening paragraph prepare the reader for all that follows?
- Does my writing flow smoothly and logically from point to point?
Are there adequate transitions between sentences and paragraphs?
- Does each sentence make its case completely, concisely, and
unambiguously?
- Is every fact or opinion supported with a reference, example, or
explanation?
- Have I proofread and revised for spelling, grammatical, and
typographical errors?
- Are my graphs equipped with clearly labeled axes (including
units) and sufficiently detailed explanatory captions? Are my
tables equipped with suitable column headings (including units) and
captions?
- Are all numbers followed by their units?
- Does the title of my paper or report reflect its contents?
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