Writing Is A Process
Below find samples of our "proof sheets" from the academic year. These sheets delineate the editorial goals for each of our peer editing sessions. They also catalogue various sytle and useage issues that we have extracted from Suffield's Writer's Handbook. The first sheet is from our recent work with Great Expectations; the next one is our first "proof sheet" from September, and then the others continue in chronological order.
Charles Dickens
Mr. Sullivan
English II
April 1, 2001
Here again is a list of pages from the Writer's Handbook that we know well:
* pp. 31-34 will help you organize your whole paper.
* pp. 4-5 explain issues with sentence construction.
* pp. 13-14 lists some key style points from this year (A-D). For this paper, we will hold you responsible for E-M.
____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner? NB: Create all your topic sentences in the active voice.
____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least two reasons given to explain this opinion?
**__ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?
____ 4. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?
____ 5. Emersonian Challenge, aka, Conclusion. Emerson wrote a famous essay, Self Reliance, in which he coaches us to "trust thyself". After summarizing, do you provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph. For the essay?
**__ 6. Relationship Between Ideas: Is the line of reasoning easy to follow? Are direct references and appropriate transitional expressions (in addition, finally, etc) used to link ideas?
Your Personal Goals for this essay: Editor's Suggested Goals:
Guillaume Sullivan
Mr. Sullivan
English II
September 24, 2000
Notice how I double spaced the whole paper (Sorry, the web software will not allow me to double space here.) so far. I began at the top with the student's name, followed by the teacher's name, then the class before concluding with the date. Besides following these guidelines, be sure to set your font for Times New Roman at twelve point. In addition, when you quote from the text of our reading, be sure to place quotation marks around the text, followed by the page number in a parenthesis. The sentence's punctuation comes last after "all the other marks" (13). Understand? If not, ask aloud now. For the first Trimester, we will not have to quote from secondary sources, unless otherwise instructed.
For our next class, bring your Suffield Academy's Writer's Handbook. We will go over the first four points on pages four and five. Notice how I italicized the title of that text? For your next final draft, I will evaluate all of these qualities as well as some previous concerns. Does your current rough draft include the following?
____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner?
____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least three reasons given to explain this opinion?
____ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?
____ 4. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?
____ 5. Conclusion: Does the clincher sentence provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph?
____ 6. Relationship Between Ideas: Is the line of reasoning easy to follow? Are direct references and appropriate transitional expressions (in addition, finally, etc) used to link ideas?
William Faulkner
Mr. Sullivan
English II
October 2, 2000
Again, you should only be hitting the return key once throughout the whole paper. Recall that you also began by setting the document at double space, 2 li, Times New Roman, 12 point, in AppleWorks.
For our last assignment, you focused on learning and implementing pp. 4-5 of the Suffield Academy's Writer's Handbook. For this next assignment, we add another expectation. On pp. 13-14, learn the first four points of style: A, B, C & D. Bring the Writer's Handbook to our next class, and we will go over them carefully and answer questions. With respect to the last point concerning the passive voice, I will insist that you create every topic sentence in the active voice.
____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner?
____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least three reasons given to explain this opinion?
*___ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?
____ 4. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?
____ 5. Conclusion: Does the clincher sentence provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph?
*___ 6. Relationship Between Ideas: Is the line of reasoning easy to follow? Are direct references and appropriate transitional expressions (in addition, finally, etc) used to link ideas?
William Faulkner
Mr. Sullivan
English II
October 2, 2000
For this paragraph assignment, we should focus on limiting our discussion on our specific topic sentences. In sculpting a clear and clever paragraph, focus on developing your topic sentence only; do not try to discuss everything you know into your paragraph. Thus, check these drafts for sentences that create a diversion from the topic sentence.
Here is a list of pages to know from the Writer's Handbook.
* pp. 4-5. Issues with sentence construction.
* pp. 13-14, learn the first four points of style: A, B, C & D. Of these four points of style, D is the most important. We will create all our topic sentences in the active voice.
____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner?
____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least three reasons given to explain this opinion?
**__ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?
____ 4. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?
____ 5. Emersonian Challenge, aka, Conclusion. Emerson wrote a famous essay, Self Reliance, in which he coaches us to "trust thyself". After summarizing, do you provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph? For the essay?
**__ 6. Relationship Between Ideas: Is the line of reasoning easy to follow? Are direct references and appropriate transitional expressions (in addition, finally, etc) used to link ideas?
Willa Cather
Mr. Sullivan
English II
October 30, 2000
In order to organize your Essay, you should review carefully pp. 31-34 of your Writer's Handbook. This section will help you organize your whole paper. Remember, cohesion has been an ongoing concern of ours. Scrutinize your work.
Here again is a list of pages from the Writer's Handbook that we know well.
* pp. 4-5. Issues with sentence construction.
* pp. 13-14, we know the first four points of style: A, B, C & D. Of these four points of style, D ranks as the most important. Create all your topic sentences in the active voice.
____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner?
____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least two reasons given to explain this opinion?
**__ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?
____ 4. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?
____ 5. Emersonian Challenge, aka, Conclusion. Emerson wrote a famous essay, Self Reliance, in which he coaches us to "trust thyself". After summarizing, do you provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph? For the essay?
**__ 6. Relationship Between Ideas: Is the line of reasoning easy to follow? Are direct references and appropriate transitional expressions (in addition, finally, etc) used to link ideas?
Your Personal Goals for this essay: Editor's Suggested Goals:
Ken Kesey
Mr. Sullivan
English II
February 14, 2001
In order to organize your Essay, you should review carefully pp. 31-34 of your Writer's Handbook. This section will help you organize your whole paper. Remember, cohesion has been an ongoing concern of ours. Scrutinize your work.
Here again is a list of pages from the Writer's Handbook that we know well.
* pp. 4-5. Issues with sentence construction.
* pp. 13-14, we know the first four points of style: A, B, C & D. Of these four points of style, D ranks as the most important. Create all your topic sentences in the active voice.
____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner?
____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least two reasons given to explain this opinion?
**__ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?
____ 4. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?
____ 5. Emersonian Challenge, aka, Conclusion. Emerson wrote a famous essay, Self Reliance, in which he coaches us to "trust thyself". After summarizing, do you provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph? For the essay?
**__ 6. Relationship Between Ideas: Is the line of reasoning easy to follow? Are direct references and appropriate transitional expressions (in addition, finally, etc) used to link ideas?
Your Personal Goals for this essay: Editor's Suggested Goals: