• 2-minute read
• 22nd November 2015

Essay Hand-In Checklist

Have you got your final assignment due in soon? Don’t leave it all to the last minute and let your hard work go to waste through missing some obvious things. Have a read through our final days checklist to make sure you have done everything you need to do before handing it in.

1. Re-Read the Style Guide

You may not have read it up until now but the week before is a great time to check out exactly how your dissertation should be in terms of style.

• Formatting

Make sure you check out the recommended font, size, line spacing and margins.

• Referencing

There will also be guidelines on referencing so double check these and make sure you have followed them exactly (down to the last full stop!). You should also check whether references are included in the word count or not.

• Abbreviations

Do you have a list of abbreviations? Is this complete and correct?

•  Title Page

Each university will have different requirements for the title page. You might need to include a standard piece of text which states that the work is your own. You may also need to include the word count.

• Abstract

Do you need to include an abstract? Is it on a separate page? Is it the correct length?

2. Re-Read and Edit

This can be painful, but it’s really a necessary step. There are several tricks you can use to make proofreading easier, such as working backwards from the end, or reading your work out loud. Make sure that everything hangs together and that each section logically leads on to the next. If you are absolutely at your wits’ end, you can always call in some professional help. Just make sure that you leave enough time to re-check it after you receive it back from the proofreader.

3. Binding

If you are handing in a dissertation, you may need to have your work bound. Be sure to book this in early as most binders get very booked up around hand-in dates.