Style and Mechanics Workshop





Decide who will read and edit for each task.
Rotate your essay to each group member to be SILENTLY edited according to the following tasks.
Using the appropriate colored pen, focus your editing to your particular task.
Edit your paper, too.
If you finish your task before others are finished, go back through and be extra thorough.
SENTENCES
RED




WORD CHOICE
GREEN
PUNCTUATION
AND SPELLING
PURPLE/BLUE
**If you have
more than four
people in your
group, put two
people on this
color.
MLA STYLE
BLACK
















Check for variety in sentence length and beginnings. Count number of words per
sentence in at least one paragraph.
Check for transitions. Comment where they work; suggest where they could be
added.
Read the topic and concluding sentences. Check for unity breaks (sentences that
do not tie back to the thesis) and mark any that occur.
Check for non-academic sentence starters such as: and, but, so, well, then, and like.
Suggest alternative sentence starters.
Check for appropriate and effective word choice.
Mark any slang or clichés.
Highlight any uses of YOU. Suggest revisions.
Mark any there is/there are/it is constructions. Suggest revisions.
Mark any vague word choices— including “something” or “things.”
Mark wordiness. Examples: “due to the fact that” “The reason is (that) because”
Mark any repetition
Mark vague support words such as many, most, some, a lot, very, few, a little, etc.
Check use of “who” for people and “that” for things.
Read the paper backwards word by word to check spelling
Check for the following grammar issues:
o Commas
o Semi-colons
o Quotation Marks
o Run-ons and Fragments
o Possessives
o It’s and Its
o Then (indicates sequence) and Than (indicates quantity, more than)
o Verb tense consistency
o Spell out numbers 9 and below.
o Do not use a comma before “because.”
Check to make sure in text citations are formatted correctly (MLA), especially titles
of works and end punctuation.
Check that research is “sandwiched” in the essay. Is it introduced and then
followed up with explanation?
Check for effectively blended quotes.
Read topic and concluding sentences to make sure the writer uses his or her own
words in these critical places.
Check to make sure the headers are properly formatted.
When everyone is finished editing all of the papers, discuss what you’ve noticed.