Writing: Presentation

Final Checklist

 

Today's Snack: Before you make your final checklist, have some Chex Mix. That's not a great rhyme, but it's close enough. Just stir together some Chex cereal with short pretzel sticks, peanuts and any other treats and spices that you like. Drink some apple juice for sweetness to go with that saltiness.

 

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Supplies:

Take a writing sample from each student

Print out this checklist and have students go over their writing,

then get back together and discuss

 

This is a good checklist to use

before you turn in an important paper

 

 

□     The paper responds to the prompt or assignment.

 

□     The handwriting is clear, in dark ink or pencil lead, without scratch-outs or obvious erasures, and very easy to read.

 

□     The paper is free of errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation and usage.

 

□     There are no sentence fragments or run-on sentences.

 

□     The paper has sentences and paragraphs, and is not just a list or made up of notes or drawings.

 

□     The paper takes up at least one full page.

 

□     The paper's tone is appropriate to the audience.

 

□     It has a single, distinct focus.

 

□     The ideas or events presented are well-developed, relate clearly to the focus of the paper, and are written in an order that makes sense.

 

□     There's a logical flow to the ideas or events so that the reader can follow along without any confusion or any need to re-read.

 

□     Each main idea is supported with well-chosen details.

 

□     Details aren't just listed, but are integrated into the flow of ideas.

 

□     There's an attention-getting "hook" opening and a memorable closing with a clear "take-away" message.

 

□     The opening and the conclusion relate to each other somehow.

 

□     The reader isn't left with unanswered questions.

 

□     There are effective transition words and phrases that link the paper together.

 

□     There is variety in the transition words or phrases chosen; they aren't all the same or similar.

 

□     There is variety in the sentence styles: simple vs. complex, short vs. long, questions vs. declarations, etc., which makes the text flow pleasantly.

 

□     Word choice is precise, interesting and vivid, displaying a large vocabulary.

 

□   There isn't any redundancy and the same words aren't repeated much, if at all.

 

□   The paper omits irrelevant or boring details and obvious, common knowledge.

 

□   Technical words are explained or defined when necessary.

 

□   The paper itself looks perfectly clean, proofread and cared for.

 

□   Paragraphs are spaciously indented.

 

□   The layout of the paragraphs has eye appeal - not too "gray" but not too sparse.

 

□   The text is complete, but not so long that it drags.

 

□   The writing comes to a satisfying, graceful conclusion, and doesn't just stop.

 

□   Facts and statistics that are cited are backed up with research citations of where the information came from.

 

□   Quotes and opinions are attributed to a named source.

 

□   It's specific and detailed, not vague, confusing and abstract.

 

□   No unusual vocabulary, jargon or technical words are left undefined.

 

□   The tone matches the purpose of the writing and the intended audience.