HOW TO FORMAT A PAPER

Name Hour Date

12 point font Times New Roman Double Space 5 paragraphs Thesis, Introduction, and Conclusion

Writing Dos and Donts

Chandler 7th

DOS
1. DO read your paper out loud after each draft. Pause at each punctuation when reading paper to yourself. When reading aloud you will spot run-on sentences. If you feel like you have to take a breath when reading a sentence, it is probably a run-on. 2. DO check spelling. 3. DO check pronoun use. 4. DO be careful about shifting tense. If you start writing in past tense stay in past tense. 5. DO be careful about homonyms. 6. DO learn the use of the word too. It also means ALSO! 7. DO start sentences in a variety of ways. 8. DO vary sentence length.

6 TRAITS
Ideas and Content Definition: Interesting topic with a clear message that has enough info What Scorers Look For: Clear message, answered prompt

What Scorers Look For: Long and short sentences, sentences start differently, flows well

Conventions Definition: The mechanical correctness of the piece, 5 elements; spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage, capitalization What Scorers Look For: No major errors, capitalization, punctuation

Voice Definition: Being able to hear the author through the words of the story What Scorers Look For: Does it sound like an 8th grader wrote this?

Presentation Definition: The finished look of the writing when youre ready to share

Word Choice Definition: A writers selection of words What Scorers Look For: Descriptive words, little word repetition

DONTS
1. Never begin a paper
with: Im going to tell you My paper is about You assigned me to topic of This is a story about

Organization Definition: The action of organizing something What Scorers Look For: 5 paragraphs, title, introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion

2. Never begin a
sentence with a conjunction (FANBOYfor, and, nor, but, or, yet)

Sentence Fluency Definition: is the flow of the piece of writing and the way it sounds

3. Write out all numbers

under 10 in words. This excludes times, dates, temperatures, and scores.

4. Never use well or

so to begin a sentence. You are not taking a note, keep your paper formal!

The end. Goodbye.

DONTS

5. Always watch out

when using the pronouns me and I. If the prompt doesnt call for you to write in first person, DONT DO IT!

6. Dont use you or ANY

FORM OF YOU in a formal paper. Instead use the words like people, one, and teenagers.

Tips for Success

1. Check to make sure your paper is perfect 2. Have a peer check it and approve of it 3. Use the writing process

7. Dont end your

sentences with prepositions.

8. Avoid using like you

are not a valley girl.

9. Never end a sentence

with the word at (writing or speaking)

10. Dont text write in

any assignments you hand in

11. Dont call your

essays/papers stories

Company Name Street Address Address 2 City, ST ZIP Code Phone (555)555-0125 Fax (555)555-0145 Web site address

12. Do not end a paper

with phrases like Thats all I have to say. Now you know what I researched.