Don’t forget to review your work

When you have finished writing your persuasive or discussion piece, you need to spend at least a couple of minutes reviewing it in the exam.

This is the time when you check that largely, your piece meets the requirements.

In your review process, give your attention to these things:

• Structure - Have I followed my plan? Is my argument or discussion point solid? Did I use connecting words to good effect? Have I followed the template? Does my introduction include all the essential elements?
• Expression - Does everything make sense? Are there any sentences that are too long-winded and confusing (if so, separate into 2 sentences or cut out)? Or are some sentences too short and abrupt? Have I used the right tone? Adding commas or full-stops can help with giving clarity to your writing.
• Argument or discussion point development - Have I included irrelevant information? Is it expressed clearly? Is the selection my examples or evidence suitable?

If your piece is lacking in structure or doesn't have a good sense of order, you need to locate the problem. Is it in your planning i.e. did you have a structure to begin with? If it's not in your planning, have you drifted in your writing e.g. changed arguments midway?

Changing arguments midway is a common error and should be avoided. To avoid it, focus on the argument at hand and develop it rather than trying to find any piece of information to boost up your word count.

The other vital step in your Review process is to check your piece using what I call the Three Tests. These are:

• Order – does your writing follow a logical order? Is there a logical step that people can follow from the beginning all the way to the end?
• Arguments/discussion points – have you chosen your arguments or points well and have you supported them?
• Style – the writing sounds authoritative and the arguments well written and clear. The strength of the writing will be in the rigour of the arguments or points.

Usually, with reviews, the best practice is to get someone who hasn't written it to review. This idea of 'fresh eyes'. It's important in your review that you look at each individual word to make sure you pick up everything. A rule my former boss taught me is to:

• Use a ruler
• Look at each individual word to correct it (because your mind generally reads sentences that make 'sense' not isolates out words).
• Then read the whole thing as a flowing piece and look at structure.

You have to review at both the:

• Syntax level
• Meaning level

Now…let's do apply our review skills.

Example/s

Watch video to see worked example/s for a review on the following piece:

Australia does not need to continue being part of the Bristish Monarchy. As now, this country is fully developed and we are able to run our own country. Australia is now becoming one of the most richest countries in the world which means that we are capable of independence. Australia was meant to be independent in the first place. Look at it, it is alone standing out as the only country and continent there is in the world.

Australia has been under British rule for ages yet the British haven't exactly guided us. We have been ruling the country ourselves and there is only one spokeswoman/man of the queen to oversee us. Australia is thriving in industries and the only reason that we are in the monarchy is because of how rich our land is.

Australia is the most independent country in the world as it is literally the most isolated country in the world yet it hasn't turned into a barren wasteland. Why? because Australia is independent enough to split out of the British Monarchy.

Australia deserves to be independent.

Key Rules to remember

• Spend time reviewing your work. It sometimes can mean the difference between passing!
• Follow the set structure including all essential elements
• Focus on arguments and discussion points – are they expressed clearly and are they solid?

Practice time!

Now, it's your turn to practice.

The questions in this checkpoint are provided to help you develop your writing skills.

To do your practice questions, click on the below to download your question paper. You can print it out or work from the electronic version. We do recommend that you write your answers by hand in a notebook or on paper.

PDW-CP16-Questions.pdf

Once you have completed your questions, review the suggested solutions. You can download (and print if you wish) the PDF suggested solutions and/or watch the suggested solutions video (all below).

Once you're done with reviewing the practice question suggested solutions, move on to the next checkpoint.

PDW-CP16-Answers.pdf

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