Evolving role of state and federal government in U.S. education Essay

Evolving role of state and federal government in U.S. education - Essay Example Since the era of 1867, the government has been a key factor towards enacting an educational system to fit the needs of its citizens. The creation of this organization was the hallmark of emphasis of creating a system in which the government can associate itself with the school system. The Department of Education which was created in 1867 aimed to establish a foundation for the implementation of a public school system. Two Decades later, the Second Morrill Act on 1980 became a critical component towards administering grants to colleges and academic centers throughout the nation. The utilization of taxes to fund Federal aid to schools became a vital piece towards harnessing the growth of the system itself. Post World War II, the Federal government spear headed a strong push towards extending support from government bureaucrats. One of the most notorious bills was known as the â€Å"GI Bill,† which authorized postsecondary education assistance enabling many young war veterans to return to their secular education. The initiation of the Cold War was a reality check for the Federal government as tensions continued to flare between both sites. Congress quickly stepped into action and passed the 1958 National Defense Education Act, which allowed individuals to focus their attention in math and science in order to combat the innovation of the Soviets. This again was critical as it enabled American citizens to improve their critical and analytical skills in all aspects of academic education. Furthermore, it enabled individuals to pursue post secondary education and obtain a graduate degree. If the â€Å"GI Bill† was not sufficient to address the deficiencies in the educational system, the Title IX was the cure that literally transformed the dynamics of the educational system. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 undoubtedly diminished the gender disparities that

Learning English On-line Essay Example for Free

Learning English On-line Essay Introduction In these days of fast-changing technology, almost everything is being affected and changed by technology’s machinery – including the world of academe. Because almost everything now is in the world-wide-web, most people look to the internet for information, business, research, etc. Thus, it is no wonder that even the academia is flowing along this trend and is using the internet as means to enhance learning. As much as it is true that large and considerable help is found in the Net, when it comes to the issue of serious and more fruitful study, traditional schooling is still advantageous. Though some among the academic world have casted their votes for on-line learning, this paper attempts to give the opposite view. This is an argument against on-line learning. Disadvantages of E-Classes Several things are propounded by those who criticize e-learning which merit the attention of those who are on the pro side. 1.) No personalized face to face communication with teachers. Because there is no real interaction with teachers as inside the actual classroom, critics argue that e-learning, in the process, loses its being â€Å"educational† in the truest sense of education, or according to its philosophy . Not only that the students in e-class deprived of teacher-student interaction, they are also lacking class audience which is very crucial in the development of confidence, in terms of learning how to deal with â€Å"real listeners.† 2.) Isolation. Another disadvantage facing an e-student is the feeling of isolation that often and normally ensues in an e-class scenario. Although this is effectively answered by those supporting e-learning, still, it ought to be considered as this has been the real case in this set up/arrangement. 3.) No group learning activities. Group learning activities are very fruitful tool for study which stimulate and yield a lot of ideas. Not being able to join such group discussions is indeed a weakness of e-learning. Students need the variety of ways of learning which a college/campus usually is able to provide. Conclusion Learning English as a second language is not easily learned in an e-class scenario. The three points I have cited above that argue against e-learning are crucial ones. Anything that is used or added up to stimulate learning in any educational set up should have the quality or atmosphere that may inspire and thus enhance learning. Anything which does not guarantee the acquisition of holistic knowledge is not education in its truest sense. Works Cited 1. Peters, Richard S. In www.acm.org/ubiquity/views/c_shoniregun_3. Accessed April 28, 2007.

Advances in Research on Plant Genetic Resources of Mexico :: Ecology Ecological Nature Mexico Essays

Advances in Research on Plant Genetic Resources of Mexico We read in this book that in Mexico can be found 30,000 of the 250,000 species of higher plants so far described. Between 5,000 to 7,000 of Mexican species are deemed to be of economic use, and of these, 1,000 to 1,500 are edible. According to a conservative estimate cited here, 10% of genera and 52% of species found in Mexico are endemic. This makes Mexico, a country that ranks 14th globally in terms of territorial extension, the fourth country in terms of biodiversity. It is therefore evident that an understanding of Mexican flora, in conjunction with effective strategies for use and preservation, is of first importance for our plant-dependant, agricultural world. Contributors to this work argue for this and more: 1) the urgency of halting degradation of biological and cultural environments that are closely tied to the use and preservation of many important ecotypes, 2) the significance of social issues that affect the viability of ways of life that have created, and that maintain, important stores of the world's genetic diversity, 3) the need for coordinated strategies and action between national initiatives and those of international germplasm agencies. It is satisfying to see Mexican scientists earnestly wrestling with such issues. The book consists of the proceedings of the third meeting on Mexican biodiversity (8-9 February, 1990), organized jointly by the Mexican Society of Plant Genetics (SOMEFI) and the Botanical Garden of Mexico's national university (UNAM). Strongly represented are top researchers from UNAM's Biology department, from the agricultural university of Chapingo, from the national agricultural research agency (INIFAP), and from the PostGraduate College, Mexico's premiere institutions for the study of ecological and agricultural sciences. Significantly, the book is dedicated to one of the foremost authorities on Mexican flora and traditional farming systems, Efraim Hernà ¡ndez Xolocotzi, who was to die a year after presenting the lead paper at this conference. The proceedings have been well edited for book format. Text is in Spanish, with a summary provided for each chapter in Spanish and excellent English. The book is organized into six major sections, including papers on the general philosophy of biodiversity preservation, regional studies, basic studies, the policies of international preservation societies, and a succinct summary of the discussions of the symposium. However, the pith of the book is the third section, consisting of depth reviews of current germplasm status for several major species of useful Mexican plants, including: Zea, Phaseolus, Amaranthus, Capsicum, Cucurbita, Physalis, Sechium, Persea, Crataegus, Agave, and several medicinal species.

What Leadership Means Essay -- Leadership Leaders Management Essays

What Leadership Means Leadership is 'the behaviour of an individual when he is directing the activities of a group towards a shared goal'. (Hemphill and Coons, 1957, p.7) A leader is interpreted as someone who sets direction in an effort and influences people to follow that direction. How they set that direction and influence people depends on a variety of factors. To really comprehend the 'territory' of leadership, one should briefly scan some of the major theories, notice various styles of leadership and review some of the suggested traits and characteristics that leaders should have. There are many leadership theories. Arthur G. Jago (1982) proposed a framework that organizes leadership theories based on each theory's focus and approach. "Focus" refers to whether leadership is viewed as a set of traits or as a set of actions. Focus on Traits: Theories with such a focus see leaders as having certain innate or inherent personality traits that distinguish them from non-leaders. These personality traits are supposed to be relatively stable and enduring. Focus on Behaviour: Theories with this type of focus see leadership as observable actions of the leader instead of personality traits. "Approach" is concerned with whether a particular theory or model of leadership takes a universal or a contingent perspective. Universal Approach: This approach believes that there is a universal formula of traits or behaviour for an effective leader. In other words, the universal approach assumes that there is "one best way" to lead in all situations. Contingent Approach: Contrary to the universal approach, the contingent approach does not believe the "one best way" formula. It believes that effective leadership depends on the specific situation. I am going to analyse two theories in detail, which according to me appear contradictory are Blake and Mouton?s Managerial Grid Theory (1978) under the head behaviour theories and Fiedler?s Contingency theories under the head contingencies theory. Behavioural Theories For over 20 years, a major thrust in leadership research has focused on the various behavioural patterns or styles used by different leaders and the functions fulfilled by these individuals. This research examined the impact that leadership behaviour had on the performance and satisfaction of followers. From... ... totally group or task-oriented; group members and the situation itself, all influence a leaders effectiveness. The leader needs to be aware of his own behaviour and influence on others, individual differences of group members, group characteristics, task structure, environmental and situational variables, and adjust his leadership style accordingly. Leadership needs to be adaptive. Organizations have changed over the past several decades with regard to the structuring of work methods and processes. Moving away from the traditional hierarchical design, most organizations are developing flatter, leaner structures that support a more empowered, team-based workforce. The nature of leadership has also changed significantly over time. References Gary A. Yukl, (2002) Leadership In Organizations, Prentice-Hall International Edition, 2nd Edition, Peter L. Wright, (1996) Managerial Leadership, Routledge, 1st Edition, Bittel L. R., The McGraw-Hill 36 ?hour Management Course, (McGraw-Hill, 1989), Fred E. Fiedler, (1987), A Theory Of Leadership Effectiveness, McGraw-Hill, 1st Edition Blake, R. R. and Mouton, J. S. (1978) The New Managerial Grid, Houston TX What Leadership Means Essay -- Leadership Leaders Management Essays What Leadership Means Leadership is 'the behaviour of an individual when he is directing the activities of a group towards a shared goal'. (Hemphill and Coons, 1957, p.7) A leader is interpreted as someone who sets direction in an effort and influences people to follow that direction. How they set that direction and influence people depends on a variety of factors. To really comprehend the 'territory' of leadership, one should briefly scan some of the major theories, notice various styles of leadership and review some of the suggested traits and characteristics that leaders should have. There are many leadership theories. Arthur G. Jago (1982) proposed a framework that organizes leadership theories based on each theory's focus and approach. "Focus" refers to whether leadership is viewed as a set of traits or as a set of actions. Focus on Traits: Theories with such a focus see leaders as having certain innate or inherent personality traits that distinguish them from non-leaders. These personality traits are supposed to be relatively stable and enduring. Focus on Behaviour: Theories with this type of focus see leadership as observable actions of the leader instead of personality traits. "Approach" is concerned with whether a particular theory or model of leadership takes a universal or a contingent perspective. Universal Approach: This approach believes that there is a universal formula of traits or behaviour for an effective leader. In other words, the universal approach assumes that there is "one best way" to lead in all situations. Contingent Approach: Contrary to the universal approach, the contingent approach does not believe the "one best way" formula. It believes that effective leadership depends on the specific situation. I am going to analyse two theories in detail, which according to me appear contradictory are Blake and Mouton?s Managerial Grid Theory (1978) under the head behaviour theories and Fiedler?s Contingency theories under the head contingencies theory. Behavioural Theories For over 20 years, a major thrust in leadership research has focused on the various behavioural patterns or styles used by different leaders and the functions fulfilled by these individuals. This research examined the impact that leadership behaviour had on the performance and satisfaction of followers. From... ... totally group or task-oriented; group members and the situation itself, all influence a leaders effectiveness. The leader needs to be aware of his own behaviour and influence on others, individual differences of group members, group characteristics, task structure, environmental and situational variables, and adjust his leadership style accordingly. Leadership needs to be adaptive. Organizations have changed over the past several decades with regard to the structuring of work methods and processes. Moving away from the traditional hierarchical design, most organizations are developing flatter, leaner structures that support a more empowered, team-based workforce. The nature of leadership has also changed significantly over time. References Gary A. Yukl, (2002) Leadership In Organizations, Prentice-Hall International Edition, 2nd Edition, Peter L. Wright, (1996) Managerial Leadership, Routledge, 1st Edition, Bittel L. R., The McGraw-Hill 36 ?hour Management Course, (McGraw-Hill, 1989), Fred E. Fiedler, (1987), A Theory Of Leadership Effectiveness, McGraw-Hill, 1st Edition Blake, R. R. and Mouton, J. S. (1978) The New Managerial Grid, Houston TX

Nvq Err Task B

Task B – Your Work Role Bi-Describe Terms Conditions of Contract of Employment Job Description, Defining my Role, Responsibilities as well as the roles of others such as Managers & Supervisors. Entitlement, Such as Rate of Pay, Holidays, Sickness Benefit, Pensions & Expenses. Responsibilities, Working Hours, Illness, Absence, Complaints Procedures, Notice Periods (leaving & dismissal), Company Dress Code, Changes in Circumstances, Assessments & Training. General,Correct Use of Company Equipment (telephones & computers), Codes of Behaviour, Health & Safety. Bii-Describe Information on Payslip Company Name, My Name, Payment Number, Payment Period, Employee Number, Tax Code National Insurance Number, Payment Date, Rate of Pay (holiday, sickness, overtime), Contributions (tax & national insurance, pension), Gross & Net Pay. Biii-Identify 2 Changes in Personal Info Any change in circumstances such as my name, address & contact information. Bv-Explain Agreed Ways of Working Data Pro tectionBy agreeing that no data is disclosed without the consent of clients and ensuring that all sensitive information is stored in a secure manner (filing cabinets locked, computers password protected). Grievance By agreeing a solution with the employer in order to resolve any disputes or differences in opinion which can be recorded in writing in order to avoid Legal or Trade Representations. Conflict Management It is essential that good lines of communication exist between the employer & employee so that the employer is confident that the employee`s time in the workplace is both constructive & productive.Anti-discriminatory Practice In order to maintain no person is discriminated against in the workplace employers should offer guidance with the Company Discrimination Policy & employee`s should participate in training. Health & Safety The employer needs to outline the employee`s role & responsibilities within company in order for the employee to work in a safe & secure manner when making practical decisions in the workplace. ConfidentialityIt is essential that this is maintained at all times in order to promote professionalism, trust, value, understanding & confidence in the employee`s ability when dealing with clients & their needs. Whistleblowing Unethical behaviour by staff & management is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in any circumstance. Employers should have strict guidelines in order for the employee to make an informed decision on possible breaches & report accordingly without the fear of repercussion. Bvi-Explain How Role Contributes to Service ProvidedMy role is provide clients with support, attention & understanding in order to provide them with the best possible care I can provide. Bvii-Explain How to Influence Quality of Service Best Practice Customer service is priority, I must be kind, considerate & polite at all times in order to promote client confidence which can be done easily with constructive comments & positive feedback. Requirem ents By not carrying out the requirements of my role the basic care & attention required by my clients would suffer & this would have a destructive and negative impact on their recovery.Bviii-Describe How Own Work is Influenced by Codes of Practice etc. These National factors & Codes of Practice give me guidance, standards & guidelines to follow whilst Legislation advises me of what is considered safe & acceptable behaviour within the workplace. Bix-Influential Representative Bodies Social Services Providing a wide range practical & emotional support services which offer awareness & security in order to manage the welfare of vulnerable people within the community. Human Rights Offering a secure & safe standard of life without prejudice or discrimination.

Signs You Are a Chemistry Major

Signs You Are a Chemistry Major If you are a chemistry major, you already know youre special. Yet, can people sense  you are a chemistry major before you tell them? Yes! Here are the signs that set you apart from other students. You get annoyed when someone tells you they dont want chemicals in their food (shampoo, cleaners, etc.) because you know everything is a chemical.The dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep are from pulling all-nighters to write up lab reports  and work chemistry problems rather than from partying.You often smell like a signature scent from the lab that no one mistakes for designer perfume. If you work in certain labs, even your breath reeks of  an organic solvent.You not only know what Avogadros number is, but can state it with 5  significant figures. You also realize Avogadro isnt the one who came up with the number that bears his name, although he did describe a gas law. You own a lab coat, wear it even when it isnt necessary, and like the interesting  way it smells. Despite the lab coat, most of your pants have holes in them from acid burns. Your shoes and possibly your lab notebooks also bear these marks.  Theres a good chance you have some scars from chemical burns, too.You make the Best. Coffee. Ever. Every time. Your cupboard contains lab glassware in addition to the usual kitchen utensils. You didnt borrow it from the lab, did you?You know the difference between borosilicate glass, flint glass, and leaded  crystal (and why its not really crystal). You know what color will be produced by burning pretty much  every metal salt  known to mankind. When someone refers to a mole, you think of the unit, not the burrowing mammal.If asked, you could provide detailed instructions for 10 ways to make it go boom. You likely have pictures of key examples on your cell phone. Your lawn may have a few dead spots from outdoor experiments.When asked if something is organic, you consider whether it contains carbon and hydrogen, not whether it was grown without pesticides.You can pronounce the name of every ingredient on product packaging, know its purpose, and may be able to draw its structure.You know, without looking, what color Chemistry Cat is. If you have a cat, you  consider dressing it up like C hemistry Cat for Halloween. You have multiple copies of the periodic table, although you could state the names of at least the first 20 elements in order and possibly their atomic weights. The periodic table may be the wallpaper on your phone and computer.You rarely get to wear sandals or flip flops. When you do wear them, youre conscious of spilling liquids on your feet.If you need vision correction, you wear glasses, because you cant wear contacts in the lab. You may even own a pair of prescription safety glasses.You own or want to wear a bow tie.No matter how well things are going, you can always find some type of  error.You dont sniff perfume or even food the same way as others. You use your ​hand to wave a small amount of the odor toward your nose. Its a dead giveaway you took a chemistry lab. You May Also Like College  Chemistry Major Courses 10 Careers in ChemistryHigh School Courses To Major in Chemistry

How to Write a Technology Essay Simple Steps for a Difficult Paper

How to Write a Technology Essay Simple Steps for a Difficult Paper Need advice on how to write a technology essay? Technology is a vast and evolving field and it involves a wide variety of subjects within. Writing on technology can involve researching how it solves problems, creates new problems in the environment and in contemporary society, and how the interaction with technology advancements is changing the humankind. In this article, you will find a complete technology essay writing guide and some interesting ideas to help you get started. We will break down the challenging writing process into manageable parts. Keep reading to learn about effective strategies that will help you improve your writing, avoid common mistakes, and create an outstanding essay on technology. What Is a Technology Essay? A technology essay is similar to other essays at college so you need to answer a specific research question by developing a convincing argument that is based on relevant evidence and critical reasoning. Like any academic essay, it is a large project that involves completing several steps before you hand it in such as analyzing the question, gathering resources, information, and evidence, developing a plan (outline), getting the rough draft done, editing, and proofreading. A technology essay must include some key elements: a clear introduction with a strong thesis statement; body paragraphs that are logically structured and include supporting evidence from scholarly sources; an impressive concluding paragraph that restates your essay topic and summarizes the key points and the thesis statement. To succeed in writing an impressive technology essay, you’ll need to demonstrate your understanding of a topic and apply critical thinking skills to provide a deep analysis of a variety of academic sources to support your argument. Before you start working on your essay, it’s important to have a good idea of what type of essay you are required to write, for example: comparative essay; argumentative essay; interpretative essay; analytical essay; cause and effect essay; problem and solution essay; response essay etc. You should pay attention to the language of the question. Task words such as analyze, review, compare, explore etc. indicate the type of essay you are supposed to complete and suggest the most appropriate structure you should follow. For example, if the question in your assignment includes such words as investigate, discuss or analyze, you need to write an analytical technology essay. You have to structure your essay to break the topic into several components and discuss them in different sections or paragraphs, trying to keep the balance where it is possible. Steps in Doing Research for Your Technology Essay Writing Wondering how to get started? Follow these easy steps. Understand Your Assignment Re-read the assignment sheet and find out what kind of technology essay your instructor has assigned. You can also look for additional information in the textbooks. For example, you may be asked to choose a technology topic for an analysis and response essay and to research 3 or more perspectives on an issue. Find an Interesting Technology Topic Idea Select a broad topic you are interested in and then narrow it so that it would be possible to cover it in your technology essay. For example, you may be interested in data mining. It’s a broad topic so you should choose some aspect of this topic and write, for example, about basic data mining strategies for business or predictive analytics. Not sure which technology topic to choose? Look over the topic list below to find an idea that really interests you. Are Virtual Reality Technologies Beneficial? Should Human Cloning Be Banned? What Is Your Attitude to International Surrogacy? How Did Technology Change the World? Is It Ethical to Genetically Engineer People? Is Artificial Intelligence Dangerous? What Is the Future of Smart Homes? What Should Be Done to Overcome the Digital Divide? Are Brain-controlling Technologies Dangerous? Do Technologies Make Us Lazy? How Is DNA Information Forming Our Identities? Why Do People Become Addictive To Technologies? Why Are Nuclear Weapons Dangerous? How Is Augmented Reality Changing Education? How Can You Prove That Global Warming Is Real? What Is the Impact Of Cloud Computing? Benefits of Open-source Software How Important Is Managing Social Networking Profiles? Are Social Media Making People Lonely? How Can New Technologies Help In Treating Mental Illnesses? It’s important to take into account your assignment requirements. For example, if you have to write a position, argument or a cause and effect essay, you will need to explore and discuss different perspectives but you will have to use your answer to the assignment question as your thesis statement. Find Relevant Sources and Read about Your Topic When you find a topic that you like, you can learn more about that specific issue by finding relevant articles in authoritative online sources or Google Scholar. You can also look for more articles on technology issues in your college library. A good idea is to check such magazines as Popular Scientist, Scientific American or Discover although they are for the non-technical audience. If you want to find breaking news and research, you can check Science Daily. Select a Research Question Write out a specific question for doing research and make a list of other issues related to your topic that you can use as keywords for your further research. You can also use other questions to broaden your perspective and find more interesting ideas. Use Keywords to Find Other Sources You can use search engines to find technology articles but make sure that all of them are from credible authoritative sources. When reading articles on technology that you have found, you can also follow links in them to find good primary sources and academic articles. Make Notes as You Read Sources You should write down interesting ideas that you can use for citing and paraphrasing when writing your technology essay. Make sure you include all the necessary information about every source such as the title, the author’s name, the date of publication etc. You can write down this information on a spreadsheet or on separate cards for each source. You will need this information when making a references page. Making an Outline When you have gathered enough relevant material, you need to use different brainstorming techniques to organize your ideas and think about the structure of your technology essay. You have to make a detailed outline that will help you stay focused on the topic you have chosen and work more productively. Besides, a detailed outline will allow you to avoid the writer’s block because you’ll be able to start writing your essay from any part. The structure of your essay will depend on its specific type. For example, when writing an argumentative technology essay, you will need to take a position on a particular topic and present convincing arguments to support it. An effective technique to do it is to present the opposing view and counter this particular view with stronger evidence. Then the structure of your essay may look like this. Introduction: Background information on a topic; Thesis statement; Overview of the arguments you are going to present (structure) Body Paragraphs: Paragraph 1 A topic sentence that presents the first argument; Sentences where you give explanations and provide evidence to support the topic sentence; Concluding sentence with a link to the next paragraph Following body paragraphs have the same structure. Conclusion: Summary of the key points of the body; Restatement of your position. Writing and Revising the First Draft of an Essay on Technology This is typically the hardest part of working on your technology project and the trick is to take advantage of your outline, stick to your rough plans regarding the length of your paragraphs, and not be too fussy. You have read lots of sources and have lots of great ideas in your head so your task is to get them out on to a computer or to paper. You don’t have to pay attention to your grammar or spelling at this stage because you’ll need to do lots of revising and rewriting to make your technology essay perfect in content and style. You’ll correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes when you finish the final draft. A good idea is to create rough drafts for each paragraph in the body of your essay. Many students use this technique and for good reason. Writing a project of 1000 or more words may seem a complex task but it will seem easier if you break it down to writing 3 rough paragraphs of about 230-240 words each. Introduction You should begin your introductory paragraph with an attention grabber. It can be: a provocative question; impressive statistics; an inspiring story; a shocking fact; a quote etc. You should also provide background information that introduces your topic and presents your thesis statement – the main point of your technology essay. For example, if the topic of your technology essay is machine learning and its impact on society, your thesis statement can be like this: ‘Artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing our lives, having a profound impact on business and this impact is constantly growing in scope.’ To help your readers follow your argument, you can also outline the structure of your essay. Body Paragraphs In the body, you need to argue, explain or describe your topic. Your essay will consist of as many body paragraphs as the number of main ideas that you have outlined to present your argument. Keep in mind that each body paragraph should have the same basic structure. You have to begin every paragraph in the body of your essay with a topic sentence that actually presents one point to support your thesis statement. Next, you have to write some supporting ideas and give good examples to back your position. Make sure you link supporting ideas together and end each body paragraph with a concluding sentence providing a link to the next paragraph. You should use different transition words to connect ideas in your sentences and help your audience follow your argument, for example: however; on the other hand; in addition; specifically; considering (this); moreover; even more; instead. But before you use any transition word, make sure you completely understand its meaning and know exactly how it can be used to present the logic of your technology essay. Conclusion In the conclusion, you have to sum up your overall ideas and provide a final perspective on the topic of your essay. There is no need to make your concluding paragraph too long. You can write several strong sentences that review your key points and restate your thesis. When you finish your rough draft, you have to reread it several times to see what changes you might like to make. You may need to go back to your resources to find more evidence to support your ideas or even check your essay question again. You can make changes to present your paragraphs in a different order or even change your main argument. That’s why it’s important to start working on your technology essay as early as possible so that you could have enough time for revising and rewriting. Tips from Our Writers on Editing and Proofreading When you are satisfied with the content and the logic of your final draft, it’s time to edit and proofread it. You can use the following editing checklist. Make sure that you have completely answered all parts of the assignment question; Check your essay’s structure and make sure that it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Check a structure within every paragraph; Does every paragraph have a topic sentence? Check transition words and transition sentences to ensure that each paragraph is linked; Check your introduction and conclusion; Make sure you have used all words correctly and improve your word choice if necessary. Improve the sentence structure as well; Fix grammar and spelling mistakes and check your commas; Check your references to ensure that they meet the requirements of a specific style (APA, MLA etc.)