Coherence, consistency and clarity

For long assignments written over many sittings, the writing style and even some core arguments can tend to change over time. If so, and if this is not then picked up and amended, these inconsistencies can render the end product rather disjointed and confusing. Use the checklist below
to address each of the following points.
Check off  once completed.
Coherence and focus
Read the whole assignment through,
looking specifically to ensure that:
■	each section refers back specifically to your research proposal and/or the
questions or hypotheses contained within it
■	everything in the report is focused on your research proposal – and that you haven’t wandered off topic into interesting tangents
■	similar information is grouped together
■	everything is in the most appropriate section or chapter
■	your line of reasoning flows in a logical
and coherent way
■	the messages in each section of your report are mutually self-supporting
■	assertions made in one section are not contradicted by those elsewhere in the report nor by the data provided
■	the conclusion refers back to your
research question or hypotheses
■	if your perspectives on the issue changed over time, this is explained or made coherent in terms of your final position on the issue
■	it is clear where you stand on the
research questions: what the answers were and/or whether the research hypotheses were supported.

Consistent voice
Once you have completed all sections and redrafted them for content, coherence and focus, re-read them for consistency in style. Check for:
■	‘one work’: the work reads as a single whole
■	‘one author’: the work reads as if written by a
single person
■	wordiness: do you change between wordier and more concise styles between sections?
■	active/passive: are some sections written in the active voice (‘they did this …’) and others in the passive voice (‘this was done by them …’)?
■	paragraph lengths: do some chapters
or sections consist only of short snappy paragraphs of a few sentences whilst others consist only of much longer paragraphs and more winding arguments? If so, redraft.
Clarity
■	Expertise: I have developed a sound understanding of specialist terminology, and use it appropriately as needed.
■	Specialist terms: I have explained any specialist terminology I used.
■	Jargon: I have avoided or edited out unnecessary use of specialist jargon.
■	Lengthy sentences: I have avoided or rewritten
excessively long sentences and paragraphs.
■	A fresh eye: I left at least a few hours between when I wrote a section and when I checked it. (This makes it more likely that you will read
it from the perspective of a new reader, and will notice omitted words or poorly phrased material.)
■	Precision: I have ordered words in the correct sequence to express precisely what I intend to say.
■	Double meanings: I have checked whether anything I have written could be interpreted in ways I hadn’t intended. If in doubt, I rephrased it.
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