8.1.1 Achieving a good polish
Here is a list of indicators you can use to judge your polishing techniques. Most guidance notes given to students include these points, but they are not always followed.
| Positive indicators | Negative indicators |
|---|---|
| It is word-processed or clearly and neatly hand-written. | The assignment is written on paper that has been torn out of an exercise book. |
| It is double-spaced. | It is illegible. |
| There are wide margins on either side of the script to allow for tutor comments. | The writing (or word processing) fills the whole page, with no margins and no spaces between lines or paragraphs. |
| The title appears at the top of the first page. | There is no title. |
| There are few, if any, spelling mistakes. | There are no separate sections or paragraphs. |
| Paragraphs are neither too long nor too short. | There are too many short sections or paragraphs. |
| There is space between paragraphs. | There are no references and/or bibliography. |
| Quotations are acknowledged accurately and in sufficient detail. | |
| There is a bibliography at the end of the assignment, to indicate which sources you have used. | |
| The pages are numbered. | |
| You have put your name and personal identifier on each page. |