2.3 Writer's Workshop: Persuasive Argument
Once you are satisfied with your editing, it's time to proofread your writing. Proofreading deals with the more mechanical aspects of your writing. Check your writing for these points.
Title
Have I included a title?
Punctuation
Did I include a punctuation mark at the end of each sentence?
Did I use commas to separate items in a series?
Did I use commas before conjunctions (e.g., and, or, but) in compound sentences?
Did I correctly punctuate the dialogue in my writing?
Did I use apostrophes to show possession or missing letters (not plural)?
Capitalization
Did I begin each sentence and direct quotation with a capital letter?
Did I capitalize nouns that name specific people, places, and things?
Spelling
Have I double-checked the spelling of the names of people and places?
Did I use the correct word form for words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings (e.g., their, they're, there; too, to, two)?
Did I use the spell-check function on my computer?
Paragraphing
Have I indented each new paragraph or double-spaced it from the previous paragraph?
If there is dialogue, have I started a new paragraph each time the speaker changes?
Sometimes it can be difficult to spot mistakes in your own work, so you could ask a friend or family member to proofread it as well.