1. Two daysbeforcpaperis due-.nearfinal
draft form---rcread
your paperand examine
for the followingpoints: it
l ' ( ) en introductory
Pafgraphclearlyintroduces subject. topicstatement
the A is evident
rhJposition i' ;;;. ii;h'dsition
t"t* tu;;;;;;;; aquestion
;nlJfi#L:ffh'
2' ( ) rrre nexttwo paragraphs have
each a single or
marginn a3-4 wordph119e. you can'tiden-tift mainclaim.Noteeach
If
claimin the
tt . .iuirn,put a questionmarkin the
margin'Iftwo or moreclaims eiirt undtenato aivf;g;;;r a coherent
question markin themargin. thought, a
put
3' ( ) Thesame thingholds-for nexttwo parag.raphs
the
4' ( ) Thefour paragraphs on theopposite ofthe issue.
side
above focuson tt e isrueat hand;
atl theydo not wander
irrelevant tenitory.If anyparagraph offinto
w"lg"..r, p"t qr..li"n markin themargin.
5' ( ) Thesixthparagr"ptt "
*"ighi tlie connictini.r"ini, rroi thefour paragraphs
arrives a conclusion.
at wtatrorne above and
evidence i;-;;;;;;in.hg thanotherevidence
explained. ensuing
The concrusion crearry is
is stated. a;;i; it. If youcan,tfind the
9oryIriog, put a questionmarkin the margin.
-
6' ( ) Thefinalparagraph returns *rt"t wasstated thefirst paragraph
to in
evidence presented weighed
and and,in light ofthe
above, convincin$y rrprrrur.,theposition
theconclusion expected theassignment to bertine.i.o,;urtirying
by statement. If
is statements the
for
mustappear hersandflow-from explanatlonlitr,, sixth
the paragraph ofyour
Jilf,lt"
consider all questionmarks appearing
in the margin and lix thosethat need
fixing.
Next:
7' ( ) Is eachclaim in paragraphs
2-5 s:pport_ed evidence? there
by Are any nakedclaims
supporred onry variationj "I beriivr...';irrrq'piri.
by of
paragraph. uigx i;t-h";ilin u"ria,tr,.t
8' ( ) Is eachclaim backedup by a reference?
If a claim stands
-'-"" ! nakedof supporting
evidence argument, a big X in tt
or put rnurgin.
"
consider any X appearing in the margin
and fix thosethat needfixing.
Another thing:
9' ( ) Doesthe paperdo more than simply
but gloriouslyrestatethe question
? Examine the
casestudyandcrossout all ideasthat appear boththr.urc studyand your
in in pap€r.
what remains-uncrossed is your analysis.
out It shoull constitute majorityof your
the
paper.If it doesn't, haven,t
you ione an analysis.
ph.D.
D.J.Eder, Copyright 2Ot2
@ deder@siue.edu
+

2. **A:/ //
i&-dYa*/Ch ecklist for Editing
checklistfor fditing Your sevenpanagraph-Anatytical
paper
daysbefore paper is due-near linal draft form--reread your paper and examine
Jwo it
for the following points:
l. ( ) An introductoryparagraph clearly introduces subject.A topic statement evident
the is
within the paragraph. positiontakenis clear.If thepositionis unclear, a question
The put
mark in the margin.
2. ( ) The next two paragraphs eachhavea singleor main claim. Note eachclaim in the
margin n a3-4 word phrase.If you can't identift the claim, put a questionmark in the
margin.Iftwo or more claims exist and tend to divergefrom a coherentthought,put
a
questionmark in the margin.
3. ( ) The samething holds for the next two paragraphs the oppositesideof
on the issue.
4. ( ) rne four paragraphs aboveall focus on thelssie at hand;tirly do not wanderoffinto
irrelevanttenitory. If any paragraphwanders,put a question-r"ri. in the marlin.
5. ( ) The sixth paragraph weighsthe conflicting claims from the nut p*ugt"pis aboveand
arrivesat a conclusion.IlTtysomeevidenceis-inoreconvincingthan ltheievidence
is
explained.The ensuingconclusionis clearly stated.Circle it. liyou can't find the
, conclusion,put a questionmark in the margin.
6. ( ) The finalparagraphreturnsto what was statedin the first paragraph and, in light ofthe
evidencepresented and weighedabove,convincin$y rephraseithJposition statement. tf
the conclusionexpectedby the assignment to be.tinesied,
is justifring statements the
for
variancemust appearhereand flow from the explanation ihe sixthiaragraph your
in of
paper.
Considerall questionmarks appearingin the margin and fix thosethat need
fixing.
Next:
7. ( ) Is eachclaim in paragraphs supported evidence? thereany naked
2-5 by Are claims
supportedonly by variations "I believe..."? so,put a big X in the marginbeside
of If that
paragraph.
8. ( ) Is eachclaim backed by a reference? a claimstands
up If nakedof supporting
evidence argument, a big X in the margin.
or put
consider any X appearingin the margin and lix thosethat needfixing.
Anotherthing:
9'd( ) Doesthepaperdo morethansimply but gloriously restate question Examinethe
the ?
casestudyandcrossout all ideasthat uppeu.in boththecase studyand in your paper.
What remains uncrossed is your analysis. should
out It constitute ma.loiity
itre oiyou,
paper.If it doesn't, haven't
you donean analysis.
D,J.Eder,
Ph.D, Copyright 20t2
@ deder@siue.edu

3. Rewrite as necessatT.
When you've finished,let it sit at least one night beforedoing the
final step below.
Finalty:
Up to now, you'vebeenworkingon substance thinking.Now, on the final morning over
and
breakfaston the day the paper is'due,check out the mechanics.Sweepyour paperwith a
spe checker
ll andcomb it for the cornmonfatalerrorsin the list below.If you find suchan
error,put a check in the box.
10.( ) A sentence lackseitherasubjectoraverb;a sentence doesnot beginwithacapital
letteror endwith a period (citationsin parentheses aheadof periods,not behindthem).
go
I l. ( ) A sentence beginswith a relativepronoun suchas Which, Who, That, Where,and
When.
12.( ) A pronoun lacksa clear antecedent; that is, a word such as it, he, she,or they doesnot
havean obvious link to a noun (especiallynoticeableif a sentence beginswith ,t, he, she,
or tha.
13.( ) A pronounor verb fails to agreewith its antecedent number;that is, a singleperson
in
or agencyis refened to as they,or a plural subjectis given a singular verb (suchas,-
of
"members the schoolboard....gives their vote...").
14.( ) A sentence runs-onor usesa commato spliceindependent ideastogether;that is,
complexideasare not split into two sentences are linked, often by a cornma,into an
but
overly long, wanderingsentence.
The five check boxes in the list above should be empty. If not, Iix the erronr.
Whenyou're done,hand in the paperand take in a day at the beach.You've donea goodjob!
|l ,l *rr*:l
ThreeComponenFof
Assessment
Thinking
What haveyou learnedaboutyour students'Iearning?
What are you going to do aboutit?
When,where,andhow areyou going to do it?
D.J.Eder,
Ph.D. Copyright 2012
@ deder@siue.edu