Self-Editing: MLA Header Your name Last name # Teacher’s name (Ms. Miller) Class Date Centered Title Indented and double-spaced paragraph starts here. Do not have extra spaces. Only use header on the first page.

Self-Editing: Word Choice Circle the following words or phrases: Good A lot Bad I believe/in my opinion/in my eyes Things Stuff You/your Get/Got/Getting ours/we/us/I/me/my Also Circle: Contractions (i.e. “don’t” “that’s” “won’t” “can’t”) Any slang words or informal words

Self-Edit Do you use a colon? Is it circled? Do you use a gerund phrase? Is it labeled? Do you use an appositive phrase? Is it labeled? Do you use a prepositional phrase? Is it labeled? Do you use at least three sources in your paper? Work Cited: Is the Work Cited page a separate page? Is the title centered? Is the whole page double spaced with hanging indents? Are the entries in alphabetical order? (See Works Cited handout)

Peer Edit: Introductions and Conclusions Editors: Sign your name by the indent of this paragraph.

Can you find… A HOOK? - Circle it! Does the HOOK connect to the topic of the paper? Yes or No? --- Could it be stronger? --Is the hood factual? But a box around the BACKGROUND INFORMATION on the topic. Does the background information give the reader a general idea of the topic and the debate surrounding it? Yes or No? Put brackets [ ] around the THESIS – it should end the introduction Number the three topics listed #1, #2, #3

REREAD! Reread the introduction; this time, peer editors are looking for typos or areas that need more clarity/rewording. Mark and correct these errors in the paragraph! Using “you” or “I”, using contractions, slang, etc. Punctuation problems or capitalization problems Missing words or misused words Is it wordy? Can you make it more concise (use less words to say the same thing)? What is effective about this paragraph (leave a compliment!)? If you finish early begin reading and editing the body paragraphs.

Skip to the conclusion. Can you find… The RESTATED THESIS. Put brackets [ ] around this THESIS – it should begin the conclusion. The RESTATED EVIDENCE. Number the three topics #1, #2, #3. Is the restated evidence too wordy? (Remember, they have already proven this evidence in the body paragraphs. The CLOSURE. Does the paper have a closure that wraps up the paper and leaves a strong final impression? Does the paper end too suddenly? Does the author need to comment on the importance of the topic? Comment on something the author does well 

Peer Edit: Body Paragraph #1 Editors: Sign your name by the indent of this paragraph.

Edit for FORMAT Transitions: Find FIVE of them. (number them) 1: To START the paragraph 2 – 4: To introduce each piece of EVIDENCE (3) 5: To start the CONCLUSION sentence Main Idea: CIRCLE the main idea sentence Does it START the paragraph? (of course preceded by a transition) Evidence: Underline three pieces of evidence TWO must be a quote or a paraphrase!!! Links: BRACKET [ ] the links! Conclusion: CIRCLE the conclusion sentence Number the THREE restatements of EVIDENCE (#1, #2, #3)

Edit for Clarity/Meaning Read for…Identifying ERRORS Mark and correct these errors in the paragraph! Using “you” or “I”, using contractions, slang, etc. Punctuation problems or capitalization problems Missing words or misused words Is it wordy? Can you make it more concise (use less words to say the same thing)? Are the quotes well introduce or is more information needed? Are their correct citations after each piece of information that they researched? Examples: (Smith 5) (“Television and Families” par 8)

Edit for Clarity/Meaning Then, read for…Ideas! (If you finish, start editing paragraph 2.) Answer these questions for body paragraph #1: Does each piece of evidence prove the main idea? Yes or No? If not, point this out! Do the links connect the evidence to the main idea? Do they show the connection between the example given and the point being proved? Do the quotes and paraphrased material help PROVE the main idea? Yes or No? Do the quotes “flow” into the paper? Yes or No? Overall, is anything poorly worded, confusing, or unclear? Make a note of this for the writer! What does the writer do well in this paper? Give them a compliment 

Meet with the paper’s owner! Go through any essential changes or corrections needed in the paragraph so far! DISCUSS: Is there something done really well in a paragraph you read?

Peer Edit: Body Paragraph #2 Editors: Sign your name by the indent of this paragraph.

Edit for FORMAT Transitions: Find FIVE of them. (number them) 1: To START the paragraph 2 – 4: To introduce each piece of EVIDENCE (3) 5: To start the CONCLUSION sentence Main Idea: CIRCLE the main idea sentence Does it START the paragraph? (of course preceded by a transition) Evidence: Underline three pieces of evidence TWO must be a quote or a paraphrase!!! Links: BRACKET [ ] the links! Conclusion: CIRCLE the conclusion sentence Number the THREE restatements of EVIDENCE (#1, #2, #3)

Edit for Clarity/Meaning Read for…Identifying ERRORS Mark and correct these errors in the paragraph! Using “you” or “I”, using contractions, slang, etc. Punctuation problems or capitalization problems Missing words or misused words Is it wordy? Can you make it more concise (use less words to say the same thing)? Are the quotes well introduce or is more information needed? Are their correct citations after each piece of information that they researched? Examples: (Smith 5) (“Television and Families” par 8)

Edit for Clarity/Meaning Then, read for…Ideas! (If you finish, start editing paragraph 2.) Answer these questions for body paragraph #1: Does each piece of evidence prove the main idea? Yes or No? If not, point this out! Do the links connect the evidence to the main idea? Do they show the connection between the example given and the point being proved? Do the quotes and paraphrased material help PROVE the main idea? Yes or No? Do the quotes “flow” into the paper? Yes or No? Overall, is anything poorly worded, confusing, or unclear? Make a note of this for the writer! What does the writer do well in this paper? Give them a compliment 

Peer Edit: Body Paragraph #3 Counterargument Paragraph Editors: Sign your name by the indent of this paragraph.

Edit for FORMAT Transitions: Find FOUR of them. (number them) 1: To START the paragraph 2 – 3: To introduce each piece of EVIDENCE (2) 4: To start the CONCLUSION sentence Main Idea: CIRCLE the main idea sentence Does it START the paragraph? (of course preceded by a transition) Put a box around the COUNTERCLAIM Is the counterclaim effectively refuted (argued against)? Evidence: UNDERLINE three pieces of evidence TWO must be a quote or a paraphrase!!! Links: BRACKET [ ] the links! Conclusion: CIRCLE the conclusion sentence Number the restatements of EVIDENCE (#1, #2)

Edit for Clarity/Meaning Read for…Identifying ERRORS Mark and correct these errors in the paragraph! Using “you” or “I”, using contractions, slang, etc. Punctuation problems or capitalization problems Missing words or misused words Is it wordy? Can you make it more concise (use less words to say the same thing)? Are the quotes well introduce or is more information needed? Are their correct citations after each piece of information that they researched? Examples: (Smith 5) (“Television and Families” par 8)

Edit for Clarity/Meaning Read for…Ideas! Answer these questions for body paragraph #1: Does the paragraph include AT LEAST ONE counterargument and rebuttal? Is the rebuttal effective? Yes or No? If not, point this out! Does each piece of evidence prove the main idea? Does the author explain how each piece of evidence proves the Main Idea? Do the quotes “flow” into the paper? Yes or No? Overall, is anything poorly worded, confusing, or unclear? Make a note of this for the writer!

Meet with your classmates about your paper! Take this time to ask your editors any questions about their notes.

Editing Tips for Success: Read your paper out loud – I know you think you’ll sound loony talking to yourself, but really, this is the BEST way to catch errors or poorly worded sentences! Have multiple peer editors. Different minds catch different errors and can offer different insights! Use your rubric as a self-check!!!