1. Self-Editing Your Essay
Please have at least five (5) different colors to your disposal…

2. Highlight your very first sentence…
Does it compel a reader’s attention?
Is it exciting?
Does it need to be changed?
Try to make it grab the reader’s attention!!

3. Underline your Thesis…
Is it strong?
Is there a subject and an opinion?
Make sure that it is direct and argumentative.

4. Draw a green X over each period at the end of each sentence…
Is there a variety in your sentence structures?
If you have way too many periods…
Your sentences are too short and choppy.
If you have way too few periods…
You might have some run-on sentences. Consider splitting up your sentences.
Write the total number after the very last sentence.
There is a certain power behind those shorter sentences. Make some sentences long, and others short.

5. Scan your essay for RIP (Rest in Peace) words…
Really
A lot
Great
Awesome
Very
Get
Good
Bad
Nice
You (should only be used in certain situations) I
Draw a red line through each one!!!

6. No Excuse Errors… Draw a yellow triangle around all No Excuse Errors…
To, Two, Too
Their, There, They’re
Wear, Were, Where
Because, Cause, Cuz
Whether, Weather
Which, Witch
Know, No
Make sure that they are used correctly!!!

7. Check sentence openings…
Draw a black circle around any sentence that begins with…
“Then”
“Another”
“So”
Conjunctions – “But,” “Because” – Eliminate these entirely!
Only use each word once. For the rest, write another word or group of words in place of it.

8. Proper Nouns
A proper noun is a specific person, place or thing. It must be capitalized!!!
For example…
Lake Michigan
Miley Cyrus
Denver, Colorado
The Pepsi Center
Lakewood High School
Ms. Ritchey
Of Mice and Men
Look through your paper and make sure that all proper nouns are capitalized. Place a green circle around each one.
Also, make sure that the title of the book is italicized, not in quotes.

9. Place a blue square around all contractions…
Examples:
can’t- cannot
shouldn’t- should not
won’t- will not
it’s – it is
don’t – do not
wouldn’t – would not
they’ve – they have
she’s – she is
he’s – he is
Omit contractions and write the actual words in place of them.

10. Examine your body paragraphs…
If you included a direct quote from the text, make sure that it:
Contains quotation marks.
Is cited appropriately. Be sure to use the page number(s).
(72-73). Notice how the period goes on the outside of the citation.
Please cite line numbers even if you’re not using a quote.
There is an opening to the quote. Never leave it standing alone. Be sure that you set it up...
Angered, Crooks states, “…
In his weeping despair, George bemoans, “…
According to Steinbeck, “…
Steinbeck asserts that Lennie is “…
Run through your essay underline all quotes and indicate where the citation should go.

11. Look some more at your body paragraphs…
Now that your EVIDENCE has been underlined, take a look at your ANALYSIS.
In another color, highlight the ANALYSIS.
Make sure that each paragraph is not just summary. There needs to ANALYSIS within each paragraph.
You should have more ANALYSIS than EVIDENCE.

12. P
Evidence
Analysis

13. Examine your conclusion…
Reiterate your thesis.
What would you like your reader to recognize and realize?
Leave a powerful final impression on your reader.

14. Examine your conclusion… (cont’d)
Ring that bell at the end of the paper!!!
What lesson did you learn? What kind of insight did you gain??
Reiterate your thesis statement (but do not completely restate it).
Avoid “In conclusion,” “All in all,” “To sum it up”…

15. Last-minute fine tuning…
Check on the following things with your essay:
should be in italics.
Is it douTo Kill a Mockingbird ble-spaced?
Are there spaces between paragraphs? Take them out!!!
Times New Roman, 12 pt. font?
Does it have a creative and unique title?
Is your name and period in the top left-hand corner?

16. Literary Analysis Final Draft
Final Drafts of the essay are due Thursday, 11/17/16. Please bring both the final draft, as well as this edited copy.
There needs to be evidence that changes were made from the rough draft to the final draft!!!
Final Draft = 200 Points
Edited Rough Draft = 25 Points
Completed Outline = 25 Points