Best Writing Strategies
After you finish your rough draft, ask
yourself the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Is my paper clearly written?
Do I have an introduction and conclusion?
Did I stay on topic?
Are my ideas organized?
Are my sentences complete?
Is my paper well developed with enough
details?
Did I use specific examples to illustrate my
ideas?
Have I chosen my words well? Do they
express my ideas?
Is my spelling correct?
Have I capitalized properly?
Are my grammar and punctuation correct?
Have I clearly indented each of my
paragraphs?
COPS (editing strategy)
Capitalization (names, letter I, beginning of
sentences)
Organization (there is spacing between
words)
Punctuation (there is punctuation at the end
of each sentence)
Spelling
Basics of a Paragraph
Topic sentence
Key Star Details (with transitions)
Explanations (evidence, examples)
Key Star Detail (with transitions)
Explanations (evidence, examples)
Concluding sentence
ARMS (revising strategy)
Add (more details, descriptive words)
Remove (words OR sentences that do not
make sense)
Move (words OR sentences that can go in
another spot)
Substitute (repetitive words, dead words for
alive words)