HOW TO FORMAT A PAPER

Writing Dos and Donts

12 point font Times New Roman Double Space 5 Paragraphs Thesis, Introduction and Conclusion.

Name: Hour: Date: Mrs.Wolf Title (12pt. Times New Roman, Bold) _____Indent

Kyra Rodriguez 7th Hour

DOS
1. Do read your paper out loud
after each draft. Pause at each punctuation when reading paper to yourself. When reading aloud you will spot run-on sentences. If you feel like you have to take a breath when reading a sentence, it is probably a run-on.

6 TRAITS
1. Ideas and content: Definition: Interesting topic with clear message that has enough information. What Scorers Are Looking For: A clear message and answered prompt Tips: It needs to be well supported and developed. 2. Voice: Definition: Being able to hear the author through the words of the story. What Scorers Are Looking For: Does it sound like an 8th grader wrote this? Tips: Make the writing unique, make the reader want to keep reading and be open minded. 3. Word Choice: Definition: A better selection of words. What Scorers Are Looking For: Descriptive words and little word repetition. Tips: Choose words carefully, use pizzazy words to spice up the writing, avoid using tired words and your words should paint a picture. 4. Organization: Definition: The action of organizing. What Scorers Are Looking For: You have 5 paragraphs, a title, an introduction, 3 body paragraphs and a conclusion. Tips: Brainstorm about your ideas, know what each paragraph will be about, and put ideas into groups. 5. Sentence Fluency: Definition: The flow of the piece of writing. The way it sounds to the ear. What Scorers Are Looking For: Long and short sentences, sentences will start differently and it flows well. Tips: Easy sentences and it has rhythm.

6. Conventions: Definition: The mechanical correctness; spelling, grammar or usage, puntuation, capitalization, and paragraphing. What Scorers Are Looking For: No major errors, capitalization and punctuation. Tips: Use clauses and parallel structures, have proper placement of modifiers, have appropiate verb tenses and do both editing; peer and self.

2. Do check spelling. 3. Do check pronoun use. 4. Do be careful about shifting

tense. If you start writing in past tensestay in past tense.

5. Do be careful about homonyms 6. Do learn the use of the word

too. It means ALSO!

7. Do start sentences in a variety of

ways.

8. Do vary sentence length.

DONTS
1. Never begin a sentence with a conjuction. (FANBOY for, and, nor, but, or, yet) 2. Write out all number under 10 in words. This excludes times, dates, temperatures, scores. 3. Never use well or so to begin a sentence. You are not writing a note, keep your paper formal! 4. Dont use you or ANY FORM OF YOU in a formal paper. Instead use words like people, one, and teenagers. 5. Dont end your sentence with prepositions. 6. Avoid using like You are not a valley girl. 7. NEVER end a sentence with the word at. 8. Dont text write in any assignment you hand in. 9. Dont call your essays/papers stories 10. DO NOT end a paper with phrases like: thats all I have to say, Now you know what I researched, The end, Goodbye.

TIPS FOR WRITING

1. Check conventions. 2. Do the proper writing process. 3. Make sure you are happy with what you wrote.