Expectations for Fall Paragraphs in English III

NB: Mixed with general MLA rules, here are some writing tips from the Eighth Edition of The Little, Brown Handbook; Londman, New York, 2001.

Nate Hawthorne

Mr/Mrs./Ms. Surname

English III

October 31, 2003

After indenting, begin your paragraph right after the title. Avoid hitting return more than once; there is no reason to add extra space to your paper. Get to the point right away; avoid slow windups. After finishing your paragraph, be sure to reread it and check for the following essential ingredients.

Editing Goals:

____ 1. Topic Sentence: does the topic sentence express an opinion clearly, concisely and in an interesting manner? Can you revise and use active voice verb in the topic sentence?

____ 2. Topic Development: are there at least two reasons (examples) provided to explain this opinion?

____ 3. Topic Development: Is each reason supported by accurate evidence from the text?

____ 4. Topic Development: Is there an explanation as to how the evidence (quotation) supports your topic declared in the topic sentence?

____ 5. Unity: Is each sentence directly related to the opinion in the topic sentence?

____ 6. Strong conclusion: Does the clincher sentence provide a strong conclusion for the paragraph?

____ 7. 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?

____ 8. Tone: Is the tone consistently serious and unemotional?

Future/New Material:

• We want a stronger Emersonian Challenge! Refer to class notes and pp.33-34 in the Writer's Handbook.
• Do you have an original idea about a character or situation that was not discussed in class? Put a check by it on your neighbor's paper and be prepared to summarize the point for class discussion.

Web site for general writing issues: http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/ww_info.html

Previous material:

• pp. 13-14 of the Suffield Academy's Writer's Handbook.
• Moreover, with respect to point D Weak Passive, we will continue to have you use the active voice in all of your topic sentences.
• Overall Topic Unity; avoid digressions. Do you notice a digression in your paper?