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 EVERY SENTENCE with 2 alternating colors (ex. Blue, pink, blue, pink, etc.) 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 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. Does it match the instructions on the syllabus perfectly? If not, change it.  Points WILL be deducted for papers not in the correct format.  I’m not kidding.  I will take them.  Don’t push me.

On your own paper Write every 1 st word on a separate sheet of paper. You are only allowed to use the same 1 st word TWICE within your piece. You must use another word if you’ve used the same word more than twice. FIX THIS IN YOUR PAPER. (In the case of the research paper, you may use the same word once per number of pages in your paper. For example, if you have 5 pages, you may use it 5 times. If you have 10 pages, you may use it 10 times.) 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.

Parenthetical Citations Look at all your parenthetical (in-text citations).  Are they all at the end of a sentence? If not, move them there.  Are they INSIDE the period? If not, move them there.  Do NOT cite statements of fact.  “Mrs. Hendrix, born in 1977, began her Madison Central High School teaching career in 2008.” This is a FACT. No need to cite.  “South Africa is a beautiful country with stunning natural landscapes and amazing, unusual creatures” (Hendrix 1). Because this is technically an assessment/opinion by the person cited, you must cite it.