|
Tips for
PROOFREADING and catching
major errors:
| |
-
Review the major
error handout to make sure you understand the most
significant problems you’re looking for. Also, take a look
at the editing section on pp. 49-51 of
Bedford.
-
Read the essay out
loud with a pencil in your hand and mark awkward sections.
-
Read the draft
backwards at both the word level (to catch spelling errors)
and the sentence level (to catch grammatical errors).
-
Read the draft
through several times with at least an hour in between
readings.
-
If you’re using a
word processor, you’re more likely to catch errors reading
from a hard copy than if just reading from the screen.
-
If you’re using a
word processor, use the spell-checker, but remember that it
won’t catch misspellings like from/form, two and to.
-
Lightly mark
sentences that you’re unsure of, and ask me about them in
class next time.
|
Students who don't pass this essay generally
haven’t spent enough time proofreading.
See
Portfolio/Format Guidelines on the main assignments page for
guidance on what to include in your portfolio and how to format your
essay.
-
Grammar Check: One common
mistake with this assignment is that students get
criteria and
criterion mixed up. Criterion is
singular (The main criterion is value);.
Criteria is plural (My criteria are taste, freshness, and
size.). Make sure to double-check your usage of these words because
they can lead you to major errors if you aren’t careful. Also, if
you’re evaluating movies, TV shows, or compact discs make sure that
you underline or italicize them.
-
Two Serious Content Problems:
The two most common problems with this essay are that some students
include way too much background information, and they don’t argue
from their criteria. Make sure that you give us a sense of what
your subject is like at the beginning, but don’t give EVERYTHING
away. Also, when you make your judgment, don’t forget to argue from
your criteria and not just from your overall impression of the
subject.
-
Conclusions: A number of you have
been struggling with conclusions. Check out 34-35 in Bedford for help here.
-
Good Paragraphs often = Good Essay:
Review all the paragraphs you've written. Make sure they
meet the requirements of good paragraphs (focused, developed,
organized, and especially coherent) described in chapter 3 of
Bedford that we discussed in class. There are many tips in this
section that will help you create better paragraphs.
-
Logos, Ethos, Pathos: As you
think about your final revision, consider ways that you can improve
the strength of the these three rhetorical appeals in your essay.
You'll mostly rely on logos, but ethos and pathos have a place in
your argument as well.
-
Special Notes for Movie Reviews:
Make sure to mention actors names the first time you mention the
character. Generally, you'll do something like: Peter Parker
(played by Toby Maguire) or Peter Parker (Toby Maguire).
Also, don't forget to italicize or underline movie titles:
Spiderman or Spiderman.
Remember, TV shows should also be in italics or underlined (Jersey
Shore or Jersey Shore, not quotes)
-
General Help: Use the "Revising"
section on 208-11 in Practical Argument and the chapter 2 in
Bedford
(particularly the chart on 40) to help improve your essays. Also,
review to class notes, model essays, peer review comment sheets, and
the evaluation essay handout.
The
Writing Center
in the Mellinger Center is open for
writing assistance from 3-5 Monday-Thursday, and 7-10 Sunday-Thursday.
I strongly encourage you to get help from a Writing Fellow at any stage
in the writing process.
|