Researcher's Pre-Submission Checklist

✅ Researcher's Pre-Submission Checklist

I. 📚 Content and Academic Integrity Checks

Status	Check Item	Details/Action Required
☐	Completeness of Draft	All sections outlined in the initial plan (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) are present and fully written.
☐	Alignment with Scope	The work directly addresses the research question(s) or hypotheses initially agreed upon.
☐	Data Integrity & Verification	All reported data and statistics have been double-checked against the raw files. No transcription errors.
☐	Figure/Table Accuracy	All figures and tables are correctly labeled, captioned, and accurately reflect the reported results.
☐	Logical Flow & Argument	The argument builds logically from the Introduction to the Conclusion. Each paragraph contains a clear topic sentence.
☐	Conclusion Clarity	The conclusion summarizes the main findings and clearly states the novel contribution or implication of the work.
☐	Plagiarism Check	The draft has been run through a plagiarism/similarity checker (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate). All matching text has been either properly quoted or sufficiently paraphrased and cited.
☐	Self-Plagiarism Check	Any reuse of your own previously published text or figures is minimal, necessary, and properly cited as self-citation.

II. 📑 Formatting and Style Checks

☐	Target Format Adherence	The document strictly follows the formatting guidelines of the target journal or the required institutional template (e.g., margins, font, line spacing).
☐	Citation Style Consistency	All in-text citations and the full reference list adhere to one consistent style (e.g., APA, IEEE, Vancouver).
☐	Reference List Accuracy	Every in-text citation has a corresponding entry in the reference list, and vice versa.
☐	Figures/Tables Placement	Figures and tables are placed appropriately and referenced clearly in the text.
☐	Page Numbers	All pages are numbered correctly.
☐	File Naming Convention	The file is named clearly and professionally (e.g., AuthorName_Chapter3_v2.0.docx).

III. 🧐 Language and Polish Checks

☐	Spell Check & Grammar	The document has been run through a robust spell checker and grammar tool (e.g., MS Word, Grammarly).
☐	Proofread for Typos	The document has been proofread manually (ideally after printing or reading aloud) to catch common typos, repeated words, and missing words that software often misses.
☐	Clarity and Conciseness	Eliminate excessive jargon, passive voice, and overly long or convoluted sentences. Focus on clarity.
☐	Terminology Consistency	Key technical terms, abbreviations, and variables are used consistently throughout the document.

IV. 📧 Submission and Contextual Checks

☐	Supervisor's Instructions	You have confirmed you addressed all specific feedback from the supervisor on the previous draft or outline.
☐	Specific Questions Provided	Prepare a brief email or separate document highlighting specific questions you want your supervisor to focus on (e.g., "I am concerned about the interpretation of the statistical interaction term—see page 15.").
☐	Required Attachments	Include any necessary supplementary materials, like raw data files or complex code snippets, if they are essential for the supervisor's review.