CREATED BY: SUSAN CINTRA MADISON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Color Coding

What is color coding? Color coding is a method that helps you visually see the way you’ve written your piece. Follow the directions to color code your piece and see your writing as a “reader.” Obviously, for timed writing, you can’t do this exact process with colors, but the goal is to get you to see the elements of your writing that should be revised and edited before final publication or submission.

Procedures Place brackets around the FIRST WORD of EVERY sentence. Underline your topic sentence and concluding sentence with one color, your idea sentences with another color, and your supporting sentences with a third color. (3 COLORS TOTAL) Circle every “TO BE” verb (ex. is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, wasn’t, isn’t, etc.) Cross out overused VAGUE/NON-DESCRIPTIVE words: very, a lot, this, that, really, is, because, next, then, thing, stuff, etc. Place a triangle around IT, IT’S, ITS. Place a rectangle around THEIR, THERE, THEY’RE.

Other things to consider… Did you use “I”? Unless you are writing about a personal experience, take it out. Did you use “you”? Take it out. Does every statement you make support your topic sentence/thesis? If not, take it out. You do not need a history of the world to lead up to your argument. Look at the last sentence of each paragraph. Then look at the first sentence of the following paragraph. Is the transition smooth between the paragraphs? Look at your format. Is your paragraph written as a paragraph? ONE PARAGRAPH!  No bulleted lists!  Do NOT create extra paragraphs!  None of this one paragraph per sentence stuff.

On your own paper Write every 1 st word on a at the bottom of your paper (or on the back…or on a separate piece of paper…whatever floats your boat). You are only allowed to use the same 1 st word ONCE within your piece. You must use another word if you’ve used the same word more than twice. FIX THIS IN YOUR PAPER by rewriting the sentences entirely if necessary. Examine the circled “to be” verbs. Re-read the sentence and use a livelier verb if possible. Check to make sure your subject and verb agree.  (We was going to the store: subject and verb do not agree.) Examine every crossed-out word. Find a more elaborate word for these “vague/non-descriptive” words and FIX THIS IN YOUR PAPER. Examine your sentences. If you see a colored line that extends for an unusually long distance, you probably have a run-on sentence. FIX THIS IN YOUR PAPER.

Now that you’ve done this revision… Rewrite your paragraph in a fresh, new space. If you have room, please do it on the same paper as your draft. Label it “Final Draft” so I know which one to grade. Scoring – 20 points total  8 points for structure  8 points for content  4 points for mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.)