Rules for Writing
Checklist
_____DO NOT use contractions.
_____DO NOT use first person. (I, me, me, mine, us, we, our, ours)
_____DO NOT use second person. (You, Your, Yours)
_____DO NOT use quotations marks to punctuate the title of a novel.
The Scarlet Letter or The Scarlet Letter
_____ Do use quotation marks to punctuate a chapter or the title of an article.
In his article “Gatsby’s Great Color Imagery”, Tom Jones explores the concepts of…
_____DO NOT use the pronoun “this” without a proper antecedent.
FAIL: This proves that Chillingworth is a villain.
SUCCEED: Chillingworth’s obsession with exacting cruel revenge on Dimmesdale is
merely one aspect of his villainous personality.
FAIL: This shows how The Great Gatsby is a very influential book.
SUCCEED: The vast popularity of The Great Gatsby, even decades after its original
publication, is one example of this novel’s importance.
_____ DO mention the title and author in the introduction and the conclusion.
_____DO use strong verbs!!! Says
Claims
Explains
Explores
_____DO create a clear thesis statement that includes your position and arguments.
Chillingworth’s obsession with revenge, connection with the devil and cruel
treatment of Hester prove him to be the true villain of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The
Scarlet Letter.
Chillingworth shows his true villainous character through his actions, thoughts, and
words.
The Great Gatsby is considered the great American novel due to its timeless
popularity, its realistic view of the Jazz Age, and its expert use of literary
techniques.
The Great Gatsby’s realistic insight into the Jazz Age, its expert use of literary
techniques, and its long-lasting popularity qualify this work as one of the greatest
American novels ever written.
_____DO include the thesis statement in your introductory paragraph.
_____Do transition between paragraphs.
_____DO state your argument in the topic sentence of your body paragraphs.
_____DO tie in your evidence to your argument.
_____ DO include at least 3 quotes.
_____ DO cite your evidence correctly.
_____ DO make sure all arguments support your main point.
_____ DO USE CORRECT AND CONSISTENT VERB TENSE!
_____ DO sum up your position and arguments in the conclusion.
_____ DON’T bring up new evidence in the concluding paragraph.