Which Essay Should I pick?

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Which Essay Should I pick?

• Choose one of your two essays
• Doesnt matter which one
• Your favorite topic or the one with the most room
  for improvement.
• Add enough detail to satisfy the 750 word
  requirement.
• When finished, either handwrite or type a
  numbered LIST OF SENTENCES.

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Numbered List of Sentences

• Give your essay an original title at the top.
• Dont call it LOS or final draft
• Title should be indicative of the topic
• Start with 1 and begin copying each sentence in
  your essay on its own line, with its own number.
• Skip at least 2 lines after every line written on
  so that you will have room to edit your work and
  make corrections onto this draft.
• Finish at home and bring for a grade on Monday
  when we will begin Editing roulette to edit out
  problem areas before submitting.

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Editing Roulette

• You may work with your own paper or trade papers
  with the other person at your table and begin the
  following editing activities.
• You will need highlighters for this activity.

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Step One To Be Verbs

• Starting with the last word in the essay,
  highlight any/all of the following to be verbs
  am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. Dont
  forget about contractions with be verbs Im,
  youre, its, theyre, etc.
• Do not worry how or why it is used, just
  highlight.

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Step Two Demonstrative Pronouns

• Second, starting with the last word in the essay,
  highlight any/all of the following demonstrative
  pronouns which is not followed by a noun this,
  these, those.
• Do not worry how or why it is used, just
  highlight in another color.

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Step Three To Get Verbs

• Next, starting with the last word in the essay,
  highlight any/all of the following forms of the
  verb get get, gets, getting, got, gotten.
• Do not worry how or why it is used, just
  highlight in another color.

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Step Four Indefinite Pronouns

• Then, starting with the last word in the essay
  and for the next few minutes highlight any/all of
  the following thing, everything, nothing,
  anything, something, it, a lot.
• Do not worry how or why it is used, just
  highlight.

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Step Five Fragments and Run-ons

• Finally, read the essay from beginning to end and
  highlight any fragments or run-on sentences.
• Label F or RO in the margin if appropriate.

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Step Six Original Title

• Make sure your essay has an original title before
  leaving today.
• Begin your revisions tonight and bring with you
  to class tomorrow to finish.
• Final drafts must be submitted by Wednesday at
  730 a.m. to turnitin.com.

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Step Seven Lose those Be Verbs

• Eliminate and replace/rewrite all but five (5)
  be verbs in your essay.
• Use the word for the action taking place in the
  sentence and rewrite the sentence(s).
• Avoid using the passive voice.

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Step Eight Dont be predictable!

• Vary your sentence beginnings.
• Use transitional words and phrases which help
  your essay to flow.
• Use introductory phrases or clauses to combine
  sentences.
• Sound conversational.

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Step Nine Make Good Choices

• Follow this, these, and those with a noun.
• Replace the words a lot with a more appropriate
  synonym.
• Replace forms of the verb get with a more
  precise verb (unless you are using the verb
  intentionally to create a specific effect/tone in
  your essay).
• Use specific rather than general nouns, verbs,
  adjectives and adverbs to make your writing clear
  and vividly descriptive,

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Step Ten Fragments and Run-Ons

• Avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments
  at all costs!
• Read each individual sentence again starting with
  the last sentence of the paper to make sure each
  sentence is a complete sentence and is punctuated
  correctly.

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A Final Thought

• TODAY--rough draft
• Coming to school with no make-up, hair in
  ponytail, and wearing sweats
• PROM-- final copy
• Making hair appointments, dress shopping and
  purchase, nails appointment, make-up, photos and
  etc...