- Choose a topic you are interested in or a topic you want to know more about.
- You can have any opinion you want, but you must use facts and examples to back up your opinion.
- Do not copy from the internet. You can use the internet for research, but you should take general notes and then use these notes when you write your paragraph.
- Try to have three points to support your opinion.
- Try to include a counterpoint (other side's opinion) and a refutation.
When you proofread, look for the following things:
Content and Organization
Directions—The student has followed the directions and included the necessary items.
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Format—The paragraph is indented, written in 12 point font and double spaced with all appropriate information.
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Title—The paragraph has an appropriate title. P.21
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Topic—The topic is interesting for the reader. The idea is neither too general nor too specific. P. 47
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Organization—The paragraph is logically organized. The writer uses words that helps the organization.
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Topic Sentence—The topic sentence is clear and has good controlling idea.
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Supporting Details—All sentence relate to the topic and support the topic. Many of the readers’ questions are answered.
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Concluding Sentence—The concluding sentence brings the paragraph to a logical conclusion.
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Length—The paragraph is the appropriate length, not too short and not too long.
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Grammar and Mechanics
?—All sentences and phrases are understood.
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Articles—Articles are properly used.
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Capitalization—All appropriate letters are capitalized. P.228
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Conjunctions—All conjunctions are used appropriately.
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Missing Words—There are no missing words in the text.
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Person Agreement—The writer uses a consistent person and rarely changes.
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Plurals—Student uses singular or plural form for count and non-count nouns.
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Pronouns—All pronouns are clearly understood and not overused.
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Punctuation—Every sentence has correct punctuation (periods, commas, etc.).
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Unnecessary Words—All words are necessary and contribute to the understand of the text.
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Verb Form—The correct verb form is used.
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Word Choice—The correct word is used.
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Word Form—The correct form of the word is used.
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