See chapter 6 in Introduction to Engineering Communication.

1. Revising your Proposal:good advice See chapter 6 in Introduction to Engineering Communication.

2. The three stages of rewriting:Revising . . Editing . . Proofing • Revising: reorganizing, moving text around, rewriting paragraphs and sections • Editing: making sentence-level corrections • Proofing: making final corrections for word-choice, punctuation, spacing, format consistency

3. Revising: Start with the bigpicture. • Is Executive Summary complete? • Have you reorganized each section according to evaluators’ comments? • Does Implementation Plan section clearly conclude the whole proposal? • Are any paragraphs more than 1/2 page? • If so, then check topic sentence. • Use print preview to check paragraph lengths.

4. Introduce all major sections: tell the reader what to expect. Major heading Evaluation of Preventative Measures The technical staff evaluated the following measures on the basis of two criteria: 1) how well they address particular problems with management of such disasters and 2) compatibility with existing infrastructure. • Enhanced training for contractors • New legislation requiring stricter stairwell codes for public buildings • Public education in local evacuation plans This section describes these measures, defines the evaluation criteria, evaluates the measures for local application, and suggests a method for prioritizing them. Sub- heading Enhanced Training for Contractors

5. Editing Strategies • Decide whether you are more successful and comfortable editing online or in hard copy. • Get someone else to read particularly troublesome sections. Focus their attention. • Read out loud. • Follow the style sheet you created! • Check links, between paragraphs, between sentences.

6. Customize your headings. Be kind to the reader! • Consider using subheadings in the larger major sections. • Do not use a generic heading such as Analysis. Analysis of what? • Ask yourself: Do section headings make sense for my proposal? • Do you need a section called “Schedule” or are you discussing the schedule as you describe tasks? • In that case the various tasks could be the subheadings, with a schedule graphic at end.

7. Let computers help you, but understand the limitations. • Use print preview to check paragraph lengths. • Use the search function to target words or phrases you know you have difficulty with: • its/it’s • Use the spell checker and pay attention to those red lines. But do not expect this tool to catch all your spelling errors: • from/form • Use grammar checkers for what they can do for you.

8. Grammar Checkers: do they work? • And they’re my true love sits him down. • Word 6: Consider sets instead of sits Don’t start sentence with and. Consider replacing they’re with they are. • Word 98: No suggestions • Word 2000: No suggestions • Word 2003: No suggestions • Word XP: No suggestions

9. Proof Reading with Power • Allow time after editing. • Use grammar checkers for what they can do for you. • Check whatever comes in pairs (quotation marks, etc.). • Remember that mistakes tend to cluster. • Turn document upside down to check spacing. • Consider reading backwards.

10. Most Important Tip • Allow time in between revising, editing, and proofreading. Take breaks!

11. Most Important Tip