1. Which Essay Should I pick?  Choose one of your two essays: Doesn’t 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.

2. Numbered List of Sentences  Give your essay an original title at the top. Don’t 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.

3. 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.

4. Step One… “To Be” Verbs 1.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. Don’t forget about contractions with “be verbs: I’m, you’re, it’s, they’re, etc. 2.Do not worry how or why it is used, just highlight.

5. Step Two… Demonstrative Pronouns 1.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. 2.Do not worry how or why it is used, just highlight in another color.

6. Step Three… “To Get” Verbs 1.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. 2.Do not worry how or why it is used, just highlight in another color.

7. Step Four… Indefinite Pronouns 1.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. 2.Do not worry how or why it is used, just highlight.

8. Step Five… Fragments and Run-ons 1.Finally, read the essay from beginning to end and highlight any fragments or run-on sentences. 2.Label “F” or “RO” in the margin if appropriate.

9. 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 7:30 a.m. to turnitin.com.

10. 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.

11. Step Eight… Don’t 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.

12. 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,

13. 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.

14. 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...