EDITING YOUR ESSAY Statement Proof Commentary

RULES Go at my pace Do not work ahead! If the information is not there, DO NOT highlight it If the information is not there, CIRCLE it and write down what is missing

MLA FORMAT Name Teacher’s Name Class Date

THESIS STATEMENT This comes at the beginning of your essay. As we develop our writing, we will begin by writing three prong thesis statements. A thesis statement contains the topic you are writing about and your opinion (reasons why). Is there a thesis statement? Yes or no? Reason 1+Reason 2+Reason 3+opinion. If it does not go in that order, circle it

STATEMENTS In an essay, your statements connect to your thesis. For example, the first reason you discuss in your thesis, will be the first thing you discuss in your essay. Highlight each statement green. Does each statement have a transition word? Does each statement have a rule of survival and an opinion on that rule?

PROOF Proof is a quote from the text! This is what you should have highlighted in pink and proves why the trait is important for survival. Highlight each quote pink Is each quote introduced? (When+who+said) Are there quotation marks around the entire quote? Is there a cite at the end of each quote? (Author’s last name, page number) Make sure your proof connects to your statement! Proof should show why the statement is true. Does the statement do this?

COMMENTARY Commentary is your own analysis of the quote and statement. Commentary is your ideas put into an articulate and academic way. This is where you connect the statement and the proof. How do they connect? YOU ARE NOT SUMMARIZING THE QUOTE! Highlight each commentary yellow Did the commentary state how the quote(pink) proved the statement (green) correct?

THINGS TO REMEMBER o No HIT LIST words!!!!!!! Use your red paper. If you see a hit list word, circle it! o INTRODUCE YOUR QUOTES!!!!!!!!! Use the purple paper. o No Contractions! “They’re, we’re, couldn’t, shouldn’t- any word with an apostrophe (unless you’re showing possession.) o DO NOT USE “I”- this is NOT a personal narrative o This is an 11 SENTENCE essay! Meaning each section should be ONE sentence. Please do not write 10 sentences, please do not write 12 sentences. Follow directions!! o Please proof read your writing before submitting it!!

ESSAY DIRECTIONS 1.Tomorrow you will need the article with 5 paragraphs highlighted, the outline, and the EDITED rough draft. THESE ARE WORTH POINTS 2.Homework is to type up your final draft and submit it to Turnitin.com 3.Due by 11:59 PM on Monday 8/10