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Honors English I Writing Style
Note: Comments on work you write will appear as the number written with a + or a -. A + with a number on this sheet means “well done.” A – with a number on this sheet means “needs work.” C refers to “concrete details,” and D refers to “discussion.” Be sure to refer to your proofreading mark handout. With the use of this sheet, you will write a writer’s dialogue telling what you have done well, what you have done incorrectly, and what you think you can improve.

Editing Procedure
1.       Prewriting is in formal outline format: I., A., 1., a., i. Be sure to indent to show the values of ideas.
2.       Proofread and edit your draft/s. Include your draft/s with the assignment. Include proofreading sheets if used.
3.       When turning your essay in, assemble it with the final copy on top.

Format
4.           Indent new paragraphs. Do not put extra spaces between paragraphs.
5.           Follow the guidelines of formatting and documenting research. Support is properly cited in the text according to MLA parenthetical reference rules. Sources are cited! If they are not, you are plagiarizing.
Organization
6.       Length of each paragraph: achieve eight sentences or more.
7.       Text by a chosen author is used properly as support in paraphrase, quotation, summary.
8.       The introduction should open with a solid hook.
9.       If discussing literature, mention the author and title at the start.
10.     The introduction leads to a strong thesis statement. Note the phrase “leads up to.”
a.       The thesis indicates the focus of the essay clearly. Pay attention to the prompt and structure the thesis from the prompt. If you are creating an open thesis, be sure it is not vague. You must have a thesis statement to receive a passing grade. The thesis must appear at the end of the introduction, and it should be a sentence.
11.   Body paragraphs begin with ideas generated by the thesis, in the order indicated by a thesis. If a thesis is open and broad, the order may be as the writer wishes.
12.      The conclusion restates the thesis statement. This involves paraphrasing and reworking the thesis.
13.      The conclusion ties together the points discussed in the essay. The conclusion leads up to a statement of insight, goes beyond a simple clincher sentence. The insight stays on topic.
14.      Do not simply summarize plot.
15.      Indent and begin new paragraphs for new ideas. Indent for each speaker in a conversation.
16.      The introduction leads up to the thesis.
17.      Stay on topic. Plot summary is off topic. Going on an interesting tangent is off topic if it does not relate to the thesis.
18.      Limit one main idea discussion per paragraph.
19.      Do not split ideas into more than one paragraph.
20.      Use appropriate transitions for coherence.

Support and Elaboration
21.      Discussion should be convincing.
22.      Details should be significant and relevant to the main idea.
23.      Detail should move the essay to the desired end [not be simply filler].
24.      Body paragraphs include idea, argument and support as follows
a.        Main idea [A clear and articulate statement: topic sentence]
b.        Concrete Detail [fact, example, information]
c.        Discussion [opinion, argument]
d.        Concrete Detail [C]
e.        Discussion [D]
f.         Concrete Detail
g.        Discussion
h.        Concrete Detail
i.          Discussion: Clincher statement
Style
25.      The piece should address the specified audience appropriately.
26.      Words should be used that are precise, engaging, and well-suited to the purpose, audience, and context.
27.      Language should be used appropriately for the purpose, audience, and context of the task.
28.      The writer should use a variety of well-crafted sentences to establish relationships between and among ideas and statements.
29.      Transitions join ideas rather than being cliché.
Focus
30.      Have a clear focus that is appropriate to the purpose, audience and context of the task.
31.      Maintain the focus [based on the thesis] clearly throughout the task.
32.      Accomplish the purpose of the task.

Conventions: Mechanics
33.      Follow capitalization rules.
34.      Punctuate the end of each sentence. Use commas and other marks correctly. Avoid ! marks!!!!!!!!!!!
35.      Do not use abbreviations or contractions.
36.      Hyphens join compound words such as in “two-thirds”. A dash is NOT a hyphen. Do not use dashes in essay.
37.      Titles are written correctly: Use italics for titles of books, novels, newspapers, magazines, long poems [like The Odyssey]. Use quotation marks for poems, short stories, articles, and songs
38.      Do not use parentheses except for documenting citations within the text.
39.      Use ellipses correctly […]. Omitting material in a quotation […] results in the use of brackets and ellipses. Replacing or rewriting material in a quotation results in the use of brackets.
40.      Inside parentheses go brackets. (Xxx xx xx [xx xxx] xxx)
41.      Spell out numbers that are one hundred or less, with the exception of dates and addresses.
42.      Use a dictionary to check your spelling. Look out for homonyms like their/there/they’re!
43.      Correctly use quotation marks and punctuation for quoting and using dialogue. Do not quote yourself; quote others. Don’t quote for emphasis, as in The man “seemed” to be telling the truth. Be sure to TELL THE SPEAKER when you quote ANYTHING/ANYONE. Are you writing about a certain word? Quote it [The word “word” is kind of a funny word, eh?]
44.      Commas join or separate. Think. What are you using the comma for? If you split a sentence in half and invert it [reverse the order], use a comma. Never, never use a comma with “because.” Always write the comma before “and”, “but”, “or” [etc]
Conventions: Language Use: Refer to the Fumble Rules Handout.
45.      Rarely, if ever, use a question; do so only if you answer it. Do not open your essay with a question.
46.      Use language for emphasis; do not use exclamation points or all capital letters to emphasize.
47.      Do not use clichés or slang. Refer to the clichés handout. Avoid informal language.
48.      Do not use empty words such as thing, a lot, very, or nice. This, that, and other such pronouns are empty if you don’t say what, such as in “this process” or “these techniques.”
49.      Do not use constructions such as there is, there are, here is, or here are.
50.      Do not use apologies such as I think, I believe, or in my opinion.
51.      Do not write about the essay itself.
52.      Remember that authors write. Characters or speakers say. In a novel, the narrator is the speaker, not the author.
53.      Do not use empty function words such as in order to or the fact that.
54.      Do not use obvious phrases, such as in conclusion, for transition.
55.      Avoid being vague.
56.      Use adjectives before your nouns and adverbs after your verbs.
57.      Use parallel structure in sentences and paragraphs.
58.      Avoid run on sentences. These are incorrectly joined sentences [independent clauses]. Try these solutions:
a.        Using a comma and a conjunction [like , and]
b.        Using a semicolon
c.        Blending the sentences [This is called sentence combining]
59.      Avoid comma splices. These are sentences joined with a comma.
60.      Write complete sentences. [A sentence has a noun part and a verb part: the subject and the predicate]. Avoid sentence fragments. They don’t have both a subject and a verb. Never start with “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” or “because.”
61.      Write in 3rd person unless the assignment directs otherwise.
62.      Keep verb tenses consistent. Remember that verb tense indicates time relationship.
63.      Subjects and verbs must agree.
64.      Pronouns and antecedents [the words to which they refer] must be clear and must agree. One person is never a they.
65.      Write about literature in the present tense.
66.      Write in active voice rather than in passive voice.
67.      Do not end a sentence with a preposition, as in “The boy did not know what he was referring to.”
68.      Avoid awkward sentence structure.
69.      Avoid repetition.
70.      “If”…is followed by “then” [not “than”]. Another “if” thing is the subjunctive mood. You say, “If I [or whoever] were!”
71.      Subjunctive mood: say “if I were” not “if I was”.
72.      Say, “This is she,” not “this is me”

Thinking and Logic
73.      Avoid illogical statements or circular arguments.
74.      Ideas should relate well.
75.      Facts should be correct.
76.      Avoid overgeneralization and oversimplification.
77.      If you make an argument, support it with detail.
78.      If you use a detail, discuss it.
79.      Follow through. Complete all thoughts and ideas.
80.      Assume the reader is familiar with the literature.

Word Processing
81.      Double-space.
82.      Tab paragraphs 1/2 inch from the left margin [five spaces].
83.      Use Times New Roman 12-point font, plain [no bold].
84.      Do not rely on spell check alone to proof spelling.
85.      The header is for your name, aligned right.
86.      The footer is for your page numbers, set to number in sequence.
87.      Space the same number of times after each period [choice: one or two spaces]
88.      Use factory margin settings [one inch margins].
89.      Do not underline, quote, or write your own titles in bold. They are YOUR titles; you’re not quoting yourself.