1. Add a heading In the UPPER LEFT corner Name Teacher Class/Hour
Date (should be written as 30 March 2012)
** This should only be on the first page

2. Add a header In the UPPER RIGHT corner (Insert – page number)
Last Name
Page Number
** This should be on every page

3. Appearance
Double space the entire text of essay (ctrl+2 OR doublespace icon on toolbar OR format+spacing)
Choose a plain font (like Arial or Times New Roman)
The entire essay is size 12—no bigger, no smaller
Make sure you have standard margins

4. Format your title Centered Capitalize important words Not bolded
Not underlined
No wordart
Same font and size as the rest of the essay

5. Formatting your essay

6. Indent your paragraphs
Use the TAB key
Don’t put extra space between paragraphs

7. Authors and Titles Titles of plays are italicized NOT underlined
Check spelling of play (The Crucible), author (Arthur Miller), and character names

8. Introduction Attention getter Starts broad Mentions title and author
- Arthur Miller
- The Crucible
Clear thesis statement – last sentence of introduction (subject + specific opinion you want to prove in your paper)

9. Check topic sentences
Make sure you have used key words from thesis in topic sentences.
Make sure you do not have any examples or quotations in your topic sentences.
Make sure they state the purpose of the entire paragraph.

10. Body Paragraphs Topic Sentence Concluding Sentence
Supports for topic (facts, events, quotes)
Quotations connect to topic and are supported (introduced & explained) –NO FLOATING QUOTES

11. Quotations
Check for floating quotes—a quotation must be PART of a sentence. Part of the sentence must be YOUR words.
Cite your quote: (#)
Period goes AFTER closing parentheses.
John reveals Abigail’s intentions when he tells the court “she thinks
Your own words part of quote
to dance with me on my wife’s grave” (Miller 110).
part of quote citation with page number
Explain your quote – new insight

12. Conclusion Restates the thesis differently than introduction
Brings closure to the essay – Ends broad
No new topics

13. Check for run-ons and fragments
Start at the end
Read each sentence separately—listen for sentence structure problems
Work backward through the essay

14. No “I” or “You” Words (Except in Quotes)
Click the “Find” function under the home tab
Type “I”
Check “find whole words only”
Click “Find Next”
Any time you have the word I, replace it or rewrite the sentence
Repeat the above steps for “you”

15. Homonym check Check for words you tend to misuse Common offenders:
Then/than
Effect/affect
Their/there/they’re

16. Turnitin.com 11:59 PM by April 16 2012
Submit your paper to turnitin.com by
11:59 PM by April
Good Luck!