# Review a draft before you send it: checklist

Give a draft one pass for writing and one pass for substance, then hand back a short ranked list of fixes, so you know what must change before it goes out.

## Before you start

- [ ] Have ready: The draft
  Paste the full draft as it stands now.
- [ ] Have ready: Who will read it and what it is for
  For example "Department head, deciding whether to approve a budget change".
- [ ] Have ready: Sources or notes the draft relies on (optional)
  Paste any data, notes or documents the claims come from. Leave empty if you have none; claims will then be checked only against what the draft itself cites.

## Step 1: Writing pass

- [ ] Check the draft for clarity, order, length and tone for its reader.
- [ ] You have: A table of writing problems, each with the exact words and a suggested fix.

## Step 2: Substance pass

- [ ] List each claim in the draft and mark whether it is backed by a source.
- [ ] You have: A table of claims marked sourced or unsourced, and a list of gaps in the reasoning.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has one of "sourced" or "unsourced" in the Status column.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 3: Ranked fix list

- [ ] Combine both passes into one short list of fixes, most important first.
- [ ] You have: One ranked table of fixes rated must, should or nice, and a yes or no on whether it is ready to send.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has one of "must", "should" or "nice" in the Rating column.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Final checks

- [ ] Check: Every quote in the Where (quote) column appears word for word in the draft.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Carry on, but write down the problem so whoever uses the result knows about it.
- [ ] Check: Look at every fix rated must. Would sending the draft below without that fix really risk misleading the reader, losing the ask, or causing harm? Answer FAIL if any must fix is only a style preference.
  Checked by a second AI prompt. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.
- [ ] Check: Read the must fixes. Do you agree with each one, and do you know how to make it?
  Checked by you. If not: Carry on, but write down the problem so whoever uses the result knows about it.

## You end up with

- [ ] A ranked list of fixes, each rated must, should or nice, pointing to the exact words in the draft.
- [ ] A table of the draft's claims, each marked sourced or unsourced.
- [ ] A yes or no on whether the draft is ready to send after the must fixes.

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From Logic Lab (logiclabhq.com). Free to use and adapt, with credit.