Berryman Essay Revising and Editing

First Things First! Heading should have: – Your name – Instructor’s name – Class name – Assignment name – Date – (Interesting) title centered

Check the little things! Is your last name and the page number at the top of every page? Is your font 12 point? Is your font type Times New Roman? Did you double space? Is your spacing set at “0” under “Page Layout?”

MLA Matters Is your Works Cited page properly formatted? – Is your last name and the page number at the top? – Are the words “Works Cited” at the top and center of the page, in 12 point Times New Roman, with no bold, italics, or underlined? – Are all sources double spaced? – Is everything after the first line of each citation indented one half of an inch? – Did you alphabetize your sources?

The Three Ts THESIS – Underline TOPIC SENTENCES – Circle – Make a note in the margin if it is not supported in the paragraph TRANSITIONS – Connect ideas, not paragraphs. Draw a box around any transitions like “first,” “next,” etc.

Editing Check 1: Pronouns Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement – PA problems occur when a pronoun is used that doesn’t match the noun being referenced. Look for – Person confusion: “When one believes this they…” – Antecedent confusion: If you are talking about two different men, don’t refer to one as “he” and expect the reader to follow you

Editing Check 2: Dangling Modifers A dangling modifier is a group of modifying words that does not clearly modify anything in the sentence. – Running into the store, the light was out. It seems that the light was running into the store. MAKE CERTAIN that your modifiers are as close as possible to the nouns they are modifying.

Editing Check 3: Mixed Sentences A mixed sentence is a sentence that begins one way and ends in another way. – “He was very tired, so tomorrow it might rain.” Be sure to read the sentences carefully to make sure the proper thought is being expressed.

Editing Check 4: Spelling Circle any spelling errors throughout the essay. If you know the proper spelling, write it in the margin. If you are uncertain about anything, raise your hand and ask for my attention. If I am busy, continue working on the essay, and I will get to you as soon as I can to resolve the issue.