2. Research Paper Editing and Revision Part One - Format

3. Are the margins correct. Margins: one inch Is the font correct
Are the margins correct? Margins: one inch Is the font correct? Font: Times New Roman, size 12 for everything

4. Is the Header correct? Student’s Name (John Smith)
Teacher’s Name (Hannemann)
Class (English II)
Date (in reverse order ie. 22 February 2019)
Does it only appear on the first page?

5. Smith 1
Is the student’s Last Name and Page Number in the upper right-hand corner of every page? Is there a space between the last name and the number?

6. Is everything double spaced (including the header)?
Is everything double spaced (including the header)?

7. Are there no extra lines / space between the heading and the title
Are there no extra lines / space between the heading and the title? Are there no extra lines / space between the title and the first paragraph?

8. Are there no extra lines / space between each paragraph?
Is each paragraph indented?

9. Is there a Title? If there is a title, is it creative?
It needs to be more than just the topic (Police Brutality, Childhood Obesity, Pollution, etc.)
Not Underlined
Not in Italics
Not in a different font
Not a different size

10. Research Paper Editing and Revision Part Two - Proofreading

11. Proofreading Proofread for only one kind of error at a time
Proofreading Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. For example, proofread for spelling is a separate step than proofreading for punctuation or than proofreading for coherent flow of ideas.

12. These will need to be changed
Boldly circle the following weak words / phrases.
Thing(s)
Everything
Quote / Quotation
“This quote means. . .”
“The article says/ talks about. . .”
These will need to be changed
in the final essay.

13. (“can’t” becomes “can not”)
Make an “X” through all contractions
For example:
can’t
won’t
shouldn’t
should’ve etc.
These will need to be changed in the final draft.
(“can’t” becomes “can not”)

14. These will need to be changed in the final essay.
Incorrect Point-of-View (Do not use first person or second person unless part of a quotation)
Boldly circle the following pronouns:
I, Me, My, Mine
You, Your
Our Us We
These will need to be changed in the final essay.

15. Look at every pronoun and check its antecedent. Do they agree
Look at every pronoun and check its antecedent. Do they agree? Draw an arrow between any pronoun antecedent agreement errors.
“A person they believe” WRONG
“People they believe” RIGHT

16. Diction / Word Choice: Circle words or phrases for which you feel are vague or weak.
For each weak word / phrase, make suggestions of stronger word/phrase and make a note in the margin near that word/phrase.
No sentences start with But” , “Or” , “And”
First word of each sentence is capitalized
If you use the pronoun “They”, do we know who “they” is?

17. Research Paper Editing and Revision Part Three– Proofreading the Body and Conclusion

18. First… Highlight in YELLOW your body paragraphs topic sentences
Do you have 4 clearly established topic sentences? (It should be the first sentence of each of your body paragraphs)
Does each one state the purpose/direction of that paragraph and support your thesis?

19. These will need to be changed
Boldly circle the following weak words / phrases.
Thing(s)
Everything
Quote / Quotation
“This quote means. . .”
“The article says/ talks about. . .”
These will need to be changed
in the final essay.

20. I really want you to X out a lot of very needless descriptors.
In red “X” out every incidence of very, really, a lot.
These words are not specific enough
Use more definite descriptors instead.
Example: She was very tired.
She was exhausted.

21. Contractions “X” all contractions.
These are a no-no in a professional level essay.

22. 3rd Person Pronouns ONLY
The author doesn’t know us. He doesn’t even know that we exist. So why should you/I/we be in this paper?
Cross out all instances of 1st or 2nd person pronouns

23. Research Paper Editing and Revision Part Four– Quotations and Attributions

26. Citations... Do you have 9 total?
In your first paragraph, put a box around each of your 2 parenthetical citations
In your second paragraph, put a box around each of your 2 parenthetical citations
In your third paragraph, put a box around each of your 2 parenthetical citations
In your fourth paragraph, put a box around each of your 3 parenthetical citations.
Do you have at least 3 different sources?
Highlight each parenthetical citations in BLUE

27. Look at each attribution BEFORE the Quotation
Are the author’s first and last name given before the quotation?
Can you provide a descriptor indicating his / her expertise in the subject?
Harold Wahlberg author of 20 books on education ….
Highlight each attribution in ORANGE

29. Highlight each subsequent attribution in PINK
After you mention the author’s first and last name once, reference him/her by only last name.
Harold Wahlberg author of 20 books on education ….First time
Wahlberg Every additional time
Highlight each subsequent attribution in PINK

30. Look at each attribution BEFORE the Quotation
Is the full title of the article given?
Are there quotation marks around the title?
Are all significant words capitalized in the title?
Did you mention the sponsor, agency, or organization?
Highlight each article title in GREEN

31. Parenthetical Citation at the END instead?
Is it punctuated correctly? …” (Smith).
Remember! The final quotation mark goes BEFORE the parentheses.
Remember! The period goes at the END.
Is there only the last name of the author in the parentheses?

32. No Author? Is it punctuated correctly? >>>” (“French”).
Is only the first significant word of the title in parentheses?
Do you have two sources with the same first word in the title? If so, add the second word of the title as well >>>” (“French Debacle”).

33. NO Page number in parenthetical citation for online articles.
>>>” (“French” 1). BAD
>>>” (“French”). GOOD

34. Highlight each lead in to a quotation in Blue
Embed and Cite
All quotations must be embedded. Think of it as a sandwich with your words as the bread and the quotation as the meat.
All quotations must be followed by a parenthetical citation BEFORE THE PERIOD.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration “77% of all car accidents is caused by a distracted driver” (“Road”).
Put a star by all quotations that do not have a citation and/or are not embedded properly.
Highlight each lead in to a quotation in Blue

35. Highlight any time a number is mentioned in PURPLE
Data and Statistics
If you have a number or a percentage, I MUST KNOW THE SOURCE.
Does each piece of data name its source either right before or right after the data?
Examples:
77% of all car accidents is caused by a distracted driver. BAD
According to the National Highway Safety Administration “77% of all car accidents is caused by a distracted driver” (“Road”). GOOD
Highlight any time a number is mentioned in PURPLE

36. Must CITE the source. Otherwise, this is plagiarism and a ZERO on the paper