Writer's Checklist

Peer Edit

• Pick a partner to share your rough draft with by inviting them through the share/ email setting-- only give them permission to comment.

• Address comments made on your paper and delete the comments so the paper does not have any highlights.

• Let the instructor know your paper is ready to be printed after a final edit.

MLA Format

• 1” margins at the top, bottom, right, and left.

• Times New Roman or clear font, black, 12 point font.

• MLA header has automatic page numbering and student's last name in the upper right section of the header.

• Headings have all 4 appropriate items, one under another, left justified.

• The title of essay is centered.

• Page Break separating body of the paper from Works Cited page.

• The title of the Works Cited page is centered.

• Double spacing, including the Works Cited page.

• 1 space after each period to start a new sentence.

• Paragraphs are set with a First Line Indent.

• Sources on the Works Cited page have hanging indents and are in alphabetical order with no extra spacing between sources.

• Citing Sources

  • Does not plagiarize.

  • Prefaces all direct quotes.

  • Uses parenthetical or internal “in text” citation correctly.

  • Works Cited page only has the sources actually cited in the essay text.

  • Works Cited page has all of the sources cited in the actual essay.

  • Accuracy of citation information items based on newest MLA handbook edition.

• Formal Grammar

  • Effective use of transitions

  • No spelling errors.

  • Uses proper capitalization and punctuation.

  • Does not use first (I, me, my, we, ours) or second (you, yours) person.

  • No absolutes (always, never, every, everything etc.).

  • No slang or clichés (overused words).

  • Does not use contractions (don’t, can’t, they’ve etc.).

  • Does not use abbreviations (For organizations use full title the first time)

• Essay Paragraph Content

• Introduction

  • Introduces the topic.

  • Gives a cited fact.

  • States the Pro and Con of the controversy.

  • Gives a clear thesis with the position taken.

  • Introduces controlling ideas (subtopic points) of the body paragraphs.

• Body paragraphs

  • Topic Sentence: states the controlling idea of the paragraph.

  • Body of evidence: minimum of 3 cited concrete facts or opinions in each paragraph.

  • Uses analysis or impact statements to link cited facts.

  • Concluding statements: this may be an analysis statement of what the facts have demonstrated and/ or a transition to the next subtopic paragraph.

• Conclusion

  • Restates the issue.

  • Reiterates the thesis in a different way than the introduction.

  • Recommends a call to action (what needs to be done, viable alternatives, solutions).

• Points Description of Elements

• 5 Deadline points if on time.

• 10 MLA Format of the final paper.

• 5 Introduction (1 pt for each required introduction paragraph elements.)

• 8 Body 1 (1 pt for each required body 1 paragraph elements.)

• 8 Body 2 (1 pt for each required body 1 paragraph elements.)

• 3 Conclusion (1 pt for each of the required conclusion paragraph elements.)

• 8 Works Cited Elements; proper MLA items in the Works Cited list.

• 7 Works Cited Match; sources properly cited in the body of the paper match sources in the Works Cited page.

• 10 Grammar, including spelling, punctuation, and formal writing rules are followed.

• 64 Total