EDITING STANDARDS TUSCARORA HIGH SCHOOL The following are practical standards which students are expected to meet in all revised writing: Sentence Structure 1. Avoid sentence fragments. Example: Running up the hill. (fragment) I fell running up the hill. (sentence) 1. Avoid run-on sentences. Example: I was tired, I went to sleep. (run-on) I was tired, so I went to sleep. (compound sentence) Commas 4. Commas are used to separate items in a series. Example: Anne, Sarah, and Amena won awards. 4. Use commas to set off items in an address and items in a date. Example: The new election was set for November 10, 1996, in every state. 4. Use a comma after the greeting of a friendly letter and after the closing of every letter. Examples: Dear Aunt Louise, (greeting) Love, (closing) 5. Commas are used to set off appositives. Example: Mark Twain, an American writer, is known for his sharp wit. 6. Use commas to set off nouns of direct address. Examples: Tab, please give me your phone number. Don't you realize, Dwayne, that you are making a mistake? 6. Use a comma to separate an adverb clause or a long modifying phrase from the independent clause which follows it. Examples: If you go, I will go too. (adverb clause) In the big closet, Margo felt small. (long phrase) 10. Use a comma before the conjunction of a compound sentence. Example: My friend loves sports, and he goes to some type of game every weekend. 60.* Commas are used to separate adjectives which equally modify the same noun. Example: The soft, wet snow felt cold. Titles of Works When using a word processor with the italics function, italics are preferred over underlining. 7. Italicize the title of a book, magazine, play, and newspaper. Book: Catcher in the Rye Newspaper: Play: The Crucible Painting: Magazine: Seventeen Movies: The Washington Post Mona Lisa The Sixth Sense Revised 9/08 Page 1
61.* Use quotation marks around the title of a short story, a ballad, a song, a poem, or other short works of art. Short story: "The Tell-Tale Heart" Ballad: "Jesse James" Song: "The Star-Spangled Banner" Poem: "Mary Had a Little Lamb" Capitalization 8. Capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives. Examples: Canada Canadian America American 8. Capitalize the first word of a title, the last word, and every word in between except articles (a, an, the), short prepositions, and short conjunctions. Follow this rule for titles of books, newspapers, magazines, poems, plays, songs, articles, films, works of art, and stories. Example: The Diary of Anne Frank Semicolons 22. Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses not joined by a conjunction. Example: I once owned a Honda motorcycle; that was the first vehicle I ever bought. 22. Use a semicolon before and a comma after words such as however, therefore, consequently, and other conjunctive adverbs when they are used to join independent clauses. Example: George studied for hours; consequently, he earned an A on his exam. Colons 22. Use a colon and a capital letter to join two independent clauses when the second clause further explains or clarifies the first. Example: I have always respected my mother for making the following statement: "Follow the golden rule." Or after an independent clause that introduces a series. Example: To be a hit, our party needs three things: good food, great music, and fun people. Apostrophes 23. The possessive form of singular nouns is usually made by adding an apostrophe and s. Example: The girl's grades really improved. (one girl) Note: Do not use an apostrophe and s to form the plural of singular nouns. Example: The girl's ran home. (Incorrect) The girls ran home. (Correct) 23. The possessive form of plural nouns ending in s is usually made by adding just an apostrophe. Example: The girls locker room is on the right. Note: It s is a contraction of it is or it has, while its is a possessive pronoun. Who s is a contraction of who is or who has, while whose is a possessive pronoun. Revised 9/08 Page 2
Quotation Marks 62.* Quotation marks are placed before and after direct quotations. Only the exact words quoted are placed within quotation marks. This includes dialogue. Example: "I feel great today," said Mark. 63.* Commas and periods always are placed inside quotation marks. Example: I really enjoyed reading "The Tell-Tale Heart." 64.* Put a dash, question mark, or exclamation point within the closing quotation marks when the punctuation applies to the quotation itself and outside when it applies to the whole sentence. Example: Philip asked, Do you need this book? Does Mr. Smith always say to his students, You must work harder? Effective Writing 18. Use transitions to move logically from paragraph to paragraph. Use transitions to move logically from sentence to sentence. 24. Avoid non-standard English and slang. 27. Provide a clear thesis statement for BCRs. A thesis statement or topic sentence states your main idea, answers the prompt using words from the prompt, and identifies the title and/or author of the text. Example: Edgar Allen Poe, the author of The Tell-Tale Heart, did not fully develop the characters of the narrator and the old man because both characters lacked physical descriptions and descriptions of what others said about these characters. 30. Use an ellipsis appropriately, especially when quoting text. 35. Use active and passive voice for effect. 36. Combine basic sentence patterns to create varied sentences; avoid repetitive word use. 38. Avoid Dangling Modifiers Example: Swimming in the pool, the ducks had a great time. (dangling modifier) The ducks had a great time when they swam in the pool. (correct) or While the ducks swam in the pool, they had a great time. (correct) 39. Avoid Misplaced Modifiers Example: The young girl was walking the dog in the pink skirt. (incorrect) The young girl in a pink skirt was walking the dog. (correct) 40. Provide a fully-developed thesis statement for an ECR/essay. A thesis statement for an essay must answer the prompt, contain the position that you take on the topic, present the organizational structure of your essay, and should appear in the first paragraph of your essay Example: To appeal to readers, magazine advertisements must skillfully use language, color, and design. Revised 9/08 Page 3
42. Eliminate Shifts in Person or Point of View (POV). Make sure nouns and pronouns are consistent when referring to the same person or people, object or objects. Also, be sure to avoid the use of you as a pronoun except when directly addressing the reader. It is best to write from the third person POV. Incorrect: I think the author uses specific details because it gives you the sense of mystery and suspense. Better: I think the author uses specific details to give readers a sense of mystery and suspense. Correct: The author uses specific details to give readers a sense of mystery and suspense. 43. Do not switch verb tenses. Example: Jerry is a good student, and he always does his homework. (correct) Jerry is a good student, and he always did his homework. (incorrect) 45. Use parallel construction. Example: To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield are part of Ulysses' philosophy. (correct) To strive, seeking, finding and that a human should not yield are part of Ulysses' philosophy. (incorrect) 48. Utilize clear pronouns and antecedents. Example: When Jerry goes shopping for a used car, he must be careful not to get a lemon. (correct) When Jerry goes shopping for a used car, they must be careful not to get a lemon. (incorrect) 49. Utilize subject-verb agreement Example: He flies to the moon. (correct) He fly to the moon. (incorrect) 52. Avoid clichés when using figurative language. 53. Use diction to indicate audience awareness. 65.* Follow the number rules. Write out numbers less than 10; always write out any number that begins a sentence; when comparing or contrasting two or more numbers, be consistent. Always write out percent and dollars in formal writing. Examples: Polls show that three out of twenty-five students believe they should have the right to vote. Twenty-four out of twenty-five students believe they should have the right to vote. Five percent of students believe they should have the right to vote. * Not in Language Usage Handbook Revised 9/08 Page 4
Additional Skills Use this space to note other skills you find problematical. Use the Language Usage Handbook as a reference. LU # Skill Example Editing Symbols AWK Awkward/syntax SS Sentence Structure WC Word Choice INF Too informal MW Missing word/words SP Spelling error PR Proofread WDY Wordy # Space required/spacing issue TR Transpose ( ) Begin a new paragraph Source: Sebranek, Patrick, et al. Writer's Inc. Burlington: Write Source Educational Publishing House, 1992. Revised 9/08 Page 5
Modern Language Association (MLA) Thesis Guide Pre-Writing/Planning Directions: Generate ideas using a brainstorming method (i.e. listing, free writing) and a graphic organizer (i.e. graphing, highlighting, and webbing). Introductory Sentence /Transition THESIS STATEMENT: Restate the writing prompt using your own more concise and specific language. Transition/Topic Sentence/Relate to Thesis Statement Concluding Sentence/Transition Transition/Topic Sentence/Relate to Thesis Statement Concluding Sentence/Transition Transition/Topic Sentence/Relate to Thesis Statement Concluding Sentence/Transition Transition/Restate Thesis Why is your thesis and elaboration important to the reader or to society as a whole? Textual Evidence Directions: Review the writing prompt again and identify the important elements within the prompt. Next, go back to your resources finding quotes that address the writing prompt and that will support your thesis. Thesis Response Directions: Write a response to the writing prompt. Make sure to name the title and creator of the text and then use textual evidence (quote) to strengthen your response. Follow the formatting outlined below. (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html#general) Format your paper to the following Modern Language Association (MLA) Specifications: 1. Type your paper and print it out on standard-sized paper (8.5 X 11 inches). 2. Double-space your paper. 3. Use Times New Roman 12 point font. Every area of your paper from the heading and title to the conclusion should be the same style and size font. 4. Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. 5. Use either underlining or italics (italics preferred) throughout your essay for highlighting the titles of longer works and providing emphasis; put quotation marks around shorter works. Formatting the first page of your paper: 1. DO NOT make a title page for your paper. 2. Provide a double-spaced entry in the top left corner of the first page that lists your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. 3. Center your title on the line below the header with your name, and begin your paper immediately below the title. DO NOT underline the title of your paper. Works Cited page: 1. Start a new page with Works Cited centered at the top. 2. Alphabetize works by author s last name. 3. Double-space all entries. Revised 9/08 Page 6