Writing Skills
The Last Two Steps in doing
Research and Writing.
Step Seven: Rewriting and
Polishing Rough Draft
Reconciling the Outline to First Draft
Eliminating unclear statements
Look for gaps in continuity
(Note: These three items need to occur before
you start working on the second draft.)
The Second Draft
Total rewrite
Takes several sessions to complete
Time of choosing exact words
Quotations should be carefully
selected
When to cite (document) a
Source?
Any fact or opinion that you read in
one of your sources, whether you first
discovered the idea or assimilated it,
should be documented.
Two exceptions:
– Common Knowledge
– Facts easily verified
Fair Use Rule
A certain number of words, from a particular source
& if used for scholarly research, can be quoted
without permission of the copyright holder & is
considered “fair use”
When quotation(s) comprise a substantial proportion
of the source, permission needs to be sought.
When in doubt, seek permission!
For a good discussion on “Fair Use” see:
www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html;
www.ipwatchdog.com/copyright/copyrightfair-use/; www.nolo.com/article.cfm/
Step Eight: Preparing the
Final Copy – Check List
Does the controlling idea (Thesis) govern everything?
Does the Introduction prepare the reader?
Are the topic sentences clear and paragraphs fully
developed?
Are paragraphs logically arranged?
Do any sections repeat or contradict others?
Does the Paper read smoothly/maintain continuity of
thought from start to finish?
Does the Paper conclude strongly?
Is every source used documented/cited properly?
Does the Bibliography only contain sources used?
Does the form and style conform to Turabian,
Vyhmeister and the Research and Writing Manual?
Rubric: Research Paper
Seminar in Theological Research
Name ___________________________
Criteria
Excellent
Date ________________
Good
Poor
Unacceptable (0)
Does Thesis Statement
control entire
Paper?
Score ______ / 10
Thesis Statement controls
entire Paper
(10)
Thesis Statement mostly
controls Paper
(6-9)
Thesis Statement partially
controls Paper (1-5)
Thesis Statement does not
control Paper
(0)
Does the Paper Start
(Intro) & Conclude
strongly?
Score ______ / 10
Paper Starts & Concludes
strongly
(10)
Paper Starts & Concludes fairly
strongly (6-9)
Paper partially Starts or
Concludes strongly
(1-5)
Paper does not Start nor
Conclude strongly
(0)
Does the Paper flow
logically/maintain
continuity of
thought?
Score ______ / 40
Paper flows logically/maintains
continuity of thought
(37-40)
Paper mostly flows
logically/partially
maintains
continuity of thought
(24-36)
Paper minimally flows
logically/barely
maintains
continuity of thought
(1-23)
Paper does not flow
logically nor
maintain
continuity of
thought
(0)
Proper Interaction &
Documentation of
Sources
Score ______ / 20
Proper Interaction &
Documentation of
Sources, with no errors
(20)
Proper Interaction &
Documentation of
Sources, with few errors
(12-19)
Proper Interaction &
Documentation of
Sources, with many
errors
(1-11)
Improper Interaction &
Documentation of
Sources
(0)
Proper grammar,
punctuation,
sentence
structure, &
composition
Score ______ / 10
Proper grammar, punctuation,
sentence structure, &
composition (10)
Mostly Proper grammar,
punctuation, sentence
structure, & composition
(6-9)
Partially Proper grammar,
punctuation, sentence
structure, & composition
(1-5)
Improper grammar,
punctuation,
sentence structure,
& composition (0)
Form & Style
of Paper
Score ______ / 10
Completely follows
Turabian, Vyhmeister &
STM R/W Manual
(10)
Mostly follows
Turabian, Vyhmeister &
STM R/W Manual
(6-9)
Barely follows
Turabian, Vyhmeister &
STM R/W Manual
(1-5)
Does not follow
Turabian,
Vyhmeister & STM
R/W Manual
(0)
Total Score
________ /100
Common Mistakes
Incorrect Paper, Cover Page, Footnote,
Bibliography, & Page Number format
No lead-in clause/phrase, “for all quotes.”
Paper not written entirely in 3rd Person
Problems w/Widows/Orphans & Footnote spacing
No General Scripture/Bible footnote
Improper use of Ellipses ( . . . )
Not a minimum of 3 sentences per paragraph
Improper use of Capitalization & Italics
The End!
Or is it just the beginning?