I've been taught to do a full and free movement on the control column and to check correct sense, ie everything moves in the right direction.
Aircraft have come out of maintenance in the past where things were connected in the wrong order and a when the control column turned to the right the aircraft rolled to the left. For me this is an important check eveytime I fly as I don't know who has been tinkering since the last time I flew.
Easy to do on low or high wing aircraft. In a low wing turn to the right and the right aileron comes up to "wave" at you, check to see if the lefty has dropped down. Repeat, and then check elevator/stabilator too.
I think you should also know which way the trim tabs move too, I don't just crank the wheel, I turn it and make sure it's actually doing something and in the correct direction too.
Camel Toe
"Over Macho Grande?"