Editing
As you probably know nothing ever comes out perfect the first time. For true perfection there is only one thing needed to do, edit. You will not know everything about your topic, and that is when the research comes in, research to search again. As stated earlier when you first form your outline, there will be gaps. You fill those gaps, with hour’s maybe even days of research on your topic. Of course, your research should be relevant with your topic, it’s not like you want to research camping gear when you’re writing about iguanas. Or you may be talking about errors in official documents than end up on a completely different subject. When outlining, try not to cram in useless information, subordinate your sentences so that they are no more than they need to be. Add in extra information to make your argument stronger. Write about what you know; don’t write about what you don’t know. Of course, when you add in research, there are ways to represent what you added in.
As mentioned earlier, you have to cite your added information. MLA format has you cite that information by footnoting. The footnotes represent your extra added information. They also may be used for bibliographic notes which readers may consult to later. However, they are used for further explanation notes that may be too lengthy for your essay. Footnotes, in MLA style are done in superscript numbers like the following1. No asterisks (*), angle brackets (<,>), or no other marking for footnoting. They are just plain and simple superscripted numbers. Keep in mind that your footnotes are 10pt. font and Times New Roman, and when listed at the bottom of the page is single spaced. If you do decide to rebel than your footnotes will occupy most of your pages. Your computer will change the font back to its default constantly usually Calibri, be sure to keep track of this. Keep in mind that all of your footnotes are relisted on one eventually (this will be explained later). But for now, all of your footnotes are relisted at the bottom of the page in which they were listed (Microsoft has a format for this refer to “Technology Man’s Greatest Enemy”). The format for the endnotes relisted at the bottom of the page is: superscript number last name of author, first name of author title of work (Publisher year published) page number. Example: Marzilli, Alan Drugs and Sports (Chelsea House 2008) page 14. If the publisher is unknown or it was an online article put down the author in its stead. Also, if the article was online the title should be in quotation marks. Footnotes keep track of your extra added information.
It is optional, but very beneficial when done, having someone else edit your outline is the thing to do, but you may not always have time to do so. When having someone else edit your paper you are adding another perspective to your opinion, as a result making it stronger. Having someone else besides you edit your paper is vital to a good paper. They may spot an error you have not. After looking at your paper numerous of times it will eventually all look the same. With much editing it is easy to become too friendly with your reader.
Always remember you are not your reader’s friend. Your essay needs to stay formal, you need to make a connection with your reader but you are definitely not their friend. Its formal and it should always stay formal. Keeping your essay professional is key. Avoid using words similar to like, because it sound too basic. Phrases such as “that is what I think but what do you think?” just sounds elementary. Do not get too friendly. Again, connections are necessary, though it isn’t necessary to speak to your reader similar to how you would speak to your friends. In addition avoid using plain words like: bad, good, great, and etc. During editing, much subordination will take place as well.
Subordination is basically the simplification of sentences. It would be taking out the unneeded words. Also, you would take the lower leveled vocabulary and replace it would more advanced vocabulary. Though you do want to subordinate you need to keep it simple, you don’t want to be bumbling over lengthy sentences. If you use subordination the wrong way you will make it much longer than it needs to be. While researching, you need to keep all of your sources.
All of those sources are later used. The collaboration of those sources is your works cited. There are two ways to create your works cited. You may use a website or type it yourself. I prefer using the website, because it is more efficient and I am lazy. Most likely, Mr. Carney will suggest you use Bibme.org. I use that as well. Though, it proves useful to know how to do it manually as well. Luckily, if you choose that path Mr. Carney will most likely hand you out a packet on how to cite manually, that will make your life a bit easier.
