Essay Checklist

Romeo and Juliet Revisions Step 1: Go through this entire PPT to edit your own essay Step 2: Find a partner and trade essays Step 3: Go through your partner’s essay and edit it Step 4: Revise your essay before printing and turning in

Check Argument structure Thesis: Does it answer the question “Should R&J be in the curriculum and why?” Does the claim topic sentence support the thesis? The claim should not be exactly the same as the thesis Does the claim paragraph have 2 pieces of evidence? Counterclaim – the other side Does the concession mention both sides of the argument? Is there one piece of evidence supporting the counterclaim? Does the refute begin with a transition and return to the original argument? Is there one piece of evidence for the original argument in the counterclaim paragraph?

Introduction Read the intro and if it begins by talking about Romeo and Juliet you need to change it Read your thesis and think of a broad sentence that connects. You can begin your essay with that broad sentence. You can also think of a connection from another play, novel, movie, TV show, etc. The lead in should discuss the issue of Shakespeare in the freshman curriculum The lead in should connect to your introduction Does the lead in state title of play and author? Does the lead in explain how reading Shakespeare may or may not be controversial?

Word Choice Eliminate: Shows Says You/I/me/we/us/our Use 3rd person

Write in Present Tense Present tense for your words. Don’t change quotations: Obama was talking to high school students about the importance of college. Obama talks to high school students about the importance of college. Third person – He/she, them/they, people When a person feels racism, he or she is upset. When you feel racism, you are upset.

Source Format “Article Titles” should have quotation marks around them The play, Romeo and Juliet, should be in italics Sources from the textbook should be in italics The Washington Post

How do you set up an integrated quotation? Write a sentence introducing/giving background for your idea first. Then, write your integrated quotation. (your words + quotation) Write a sentence that explains and comments on the quotation. 1 Millicent knows Beverly bullies her. 2 This causes her to ponder “. . . [h]ow absurdly funny, . . . taking orders from this girl like a servant” (Plath 261). 3 Even though Millicent realizes the bullying, she still has not come of age.

Review Integrated Quotations and Citations Integrated quote notes are on Website under Reading and Writing Help Is each quotation mixed with your words? Citation = (Author Last Name Page#) Only write number and not the word “page” Punctuation goes AFTER citation Example: Obama stresses that students “should go to college to help the older generation” (Obama 38). Play citation: (Act Roman Numeral.Scene Roman Numeral.Line numbers) (I.i.230- 236)

Transitions Use transitions under reading and writing help on the class website Where do place transitions? Start of body paragraphs Between reasons At conclusion Refute

Integrated Quotation and Commentary Quotation introduced correctly – check quote integration notes NO: This quote says… NO: In this quotation… NO: On page # it says… Commentary starts with a transition NO: This quotation says… NO: This quotation indicates… NO: According to this quotation… NO: This shows…

Introducing Commentary Eliminate the word “shows” This displays, exhibits, portrays, indicates… Here, In this situation, OR don’t use a transition here!

Format Your Essay 1 2 3 Times New Roman 12 pt Double space entire essay Header – Last name Page # Header – use same formatting Creative Title

Structure of a Body Paragraph - 2 Topic Sentence (1 sentence) Embed evidence: Give context Integrate quotations Commentary/analysis Transition Embed evidence – There is no specific amount you need, but you need to transition between each piece Concluding Sentence/Transition (1 sentence – connects back to your topic sentence)

Counterclaim Paragraph Turn Against (Introduce counterclaim) 1 Give background from text for counter 2 Integrated Quotation for counter 3 Draw Inferences Connect to Topic Sentence Analyze Quotation (2-3) 4 5 Turn Back and background against counter 6 Integrated quotation to support thesis Analysis 7 Concluding Sentence (Bring together what you found out) 8

State Concession – Turn Against Introduce the counterargument. Use correct language: Although ________, some may think _______. Despite _______, in reality _______.

Concession Some may think a college education is necessary however, one can be successful without a higher degree.

Turn Back/Refute Now that you have examined the counterargument, return to your original argument. Use correct language: Transition + why the counter is wrong However, reason why counter wrong Although, reason why counter wrong

1 2 3 Works Cited Page 1 Header 2 Title 3 Hanging indent: second+ lines of citation indented: Click HERE for directions - Put sources in alphabetical order 1 2 3