REVISING CHECKLIST
For “The Scarlet Ibis” Interpretive Essay

Before we begin, you will need the following colors
of pencil, marker, pen, highlighter or crayon:
Red
 Blue
 Yellow
 Orange
 Black


It is important to take notes on your draft. Your
success on this paper will depend on notes that you
take and the changes you make.
STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED
THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.


The mistake that you do not want to make on
your essay is either not addressing the prompt at
all, not addressing the prompt fully, or not
addressing the prompt correctly.
If you fail to follow the prompt, you will fail the
assignment.
STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED
THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.
 Prompt:
Interpret the meaning of
“The Scarlet Ibis.” Select one theme
of the story and analyze how literary
elements like foreshadowing,
symbolism, personification, simile,
metaphor, and/or imagery contribute
to that theme.
STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED
THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.
 Ask
yourself:
 Does my paper interpret “The Scarlet
Ibis?”
 Does my paper select and discuss a
theme from the story?


Remember that a theme is not a subject.
 Bad Example: Life (This is a subject not a
theme)
Theme is the author’s message about that subject
 Good Example: Life is a fragile thing that
should not be taken for granted. (This is a
potential theme)
STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED
THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.
 Does
your essay present a theme that is
valid, strong, and provable with evidence
from the text?


Bad Example: The greatest bond in life is the
bond between father and son and should be
valued.
Good Example: Pride is a dangerous thing
because it can lead to selfish actions that can
be potentially dangerous to others.
STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED
THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.
 Does
your essay examine how TWO
literary elements from the story
contribute to that theme?

Literary elements include but are not limited
to simile, metaphor, personification, imagery,
symbolism, irony, motif, and foreshadowing.


If you have used something other than these elements
check with me to make sure it is appropriate.
You should ideally have one body paragraph
devoted to each literary element.
STEP 2: MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL
OF YOUR COMPONENTS
 Do
you have FOUR paragraphs?

If you do not, make sure you add
whatever you are missing. Failure to
meet the paragraph requirements will
result in failure of the assignment.

These paragraphs should consist of
an introduction,
 two body paragraphs,
 and a conclusion.

STEP 2: MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL
OF YOUR COMPONENTS
 You
need to make sure that your reader
(in this case me) is able to clearly identify
all of the components listed on your
shaping sheet.
 As
we go through the next few sections of
this checklist, you will be asked to identify
each element.


If you are missing any element, expect severe
point deductions, so pay close attention.
Make notes on anything you have wrong.
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
The Title

Your title should be original and creative.
If you have chosen something like “The Scarlet
Ibis”, try again. This is the title of the short story;
it should not be the title of your essay. You can do
better than that.
 Your title can be either:

creative (Example - Pride: The Enemy of Love) or
 informative (Example - The Nature of Love in “The
Scarlet Ibis”

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS

Paragraph 1: The Introduction
The introduction’s purpose is to capture your reader’s
attention and to introduce the subject of your paper.

Length: Is your introduction at least 5 sentences long?

Flow: Does each sentence of the introduction clearly
progress into the next?
Make sure that sentences that are next to each other have
something in common.
 Make sure you are transitioning.


Organization: Does it begin with a statement that is
going to grab your reader’s attention and end with your
thesis statement?
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraph 1: The Introduction
 Does your introduction end with your thesis
statement?


Underline your thesis statement in red.
The thesis statement should explain to the
reader the purpose of the essay and provide an
outline of the points you will be making in your
body paragraphs.

EXAMPLE: In “The Scarlet Ibis,” James Hurst uses
irony and personification to suggest that pride has
the ability to cause destruction.
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraph 1: The Introduction

Does my thesis statement explain my position?
It should explain what you think a valid theme of “The
Scarlet Ibis” is.
 Remember that a theme is the author’s intended message
or lesson about a particular subject.
 Themes should not be one word or state specific events from
the story.


Does my thesis include an outline of the two literary
elements I believe the author uses to establish this
theme?
Label each of these points with #1 and #2 in red.
 If you have not included these in the thesis you need to
make sure that you add them.

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs


Each of your body paragraphs should explain
how one of the two literary elements Hurst is
using to establish the theme of the story supports
the theme.
Is this the focus of your body paragraphs?

If not, you need to make sure that you adapt your
body paragraphs to meet this requirement.
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Each of your body paragraphs should begin with a topic
sentence.



this paragraph, I am going to tell you about”.
The topic sentence must directly relate to one of the 2
literary elements have selected from the text to support the
theme.


The purpose of the topic sentence is to explain what that
paragraph will be about.
It should not directly say “The purpose of this paragraph is…” or “In
EXAMPLE: One way that Hurst establishes the dangerous and
destructive nature of pride is through his use of irony.
Underline your topic sentences in blue.
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs


Each of your body paragraphs should contain at least 2 concrete
details.

Concrete details are quotations from the text which are used as evidence
to prove the point you are trying to make in that paragraph.

In other words, If you believe that Hurst is using “The Scarlet Ibis” to
warn about the destructive nature of pride. You need to pull a quotation
from the text that can prove that point. If it does not change it.

The quotation should be an example of the literary element that you are
discussing in that paragraph. If is not, change it.

Underline your concrete details in yellow.
There should be 4 quotations total (2 per body paragraph). If not,
make sure you find and add more. Points will be deducted for missing
quotations.
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Quotations should be relevant. DO NOT choose a
quotation that is vague, unclear, or does not support
your point.
The test of a really good quotation is: Without any
explanation, would the reader (i.e.: me) be able to make a
connection between the quotation and the point of your
paragraph?
 If you fake or falsify quotations from the text and your are
caught, it will result in failure of the assignment.
 You may change minor words in the quote for clarification as
long as they are placed in brackets.


For example: He can become [Doodle].
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Your quotations should not directly follow your topic
sentences or your commentary for the previous quotation.
There needs to be a transition in which you ideally introduce
or establish the context of the quotation, but be careful not to
over summarize.
 Your concrete details should not stand alone as their own
sentences. They should fit into your own thoughts.


Example: While reflecting on how his past actions have
hurt the one’s who are closest to him, the narrator states
that “pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears
two vines, life and death” (Hurst 467).
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Your concrete details should be followed by
commentary.
This is where you make the bulk of your argument.
 The purpose of commentary is to explain HOW the
quotation you used helps to prove the point of your
paragraph, and WHY that is important to your thesis.
 In other words, if your body paragraph is about how the
author uses irony to prove that prove that pride leads to
destruction, your commentary should explain how the
situation presented in the quote is ironic and how this
example leads the reader to believe that pride leads to
destruction.

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs


Underline your commentary in orange.
Do each of your commentaries contain at least 2-3
sentences?
If not, you have probably have not explained yourself well enough
and points will most likely be deducted.
 Suggestion: Sentence 1 may explain how the quote supports the
point of the body paragraph (how is this quote an example of the
literary element). Sentence 2 may explain how the quote
supports the point of the essay (how does this quote support the
theme of the story).


Things to watch out for:
Your commentary should not simply explain what the quotation
already says.
 Avoid clichés like “This quote shows…”
 Every commentary should say something about the theme.

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should end with
concluding sentences.


The concluding sentence should emphasize the point
you are trying to make by combining the ideas
presented in your body paragraph.
For example:


In both of the previously discussed situations, the narrator
gives in to his pride in himself, which ultimately spells
disaster for both him and his whole family.
Underline your concluding sentences in
black.
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs
Use the following steps for both body paragraphs
 General Notes:





Make sure that each of your body paragraphs addresses
only one literary element (unless I have given you
approval to do otherwise).
Make sure that you only have one paragraph per element.
Make sure that you have 2 concrete details per paragraph.
Make sure that you use transition words, phrases, or
sentences to connect unrelated ideas.
Make sure that your paragraphs are in the same order
that they were laid out in your thesis statement.

(If you mention irony and foreshadowing in that order in the thesis
statement, make sure they are in that order in the body paragraphs)
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraph 4: The Conclusion
 The conclusion is the final paragraph of your
essay. It should revisit your main points and
serve to emphasize the main idea you are trying
to get across in your essay.


It should give a sense of finality.
It should NOT introduce any new information.
(No new quotes from the text)
STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS
Paragraphs 5: The Conclusion

Is your conclusion at least 4 sentences long?


Does it explain what the theme of the story is?


If so, change it.
Does your essay feel unfinished? Is there something you have left
unanswered?


If not, state your position.
Does it repeat any of the exact wording from elsewhere in the essay?


If not, expand. You haven’t said enough.
If so, make sure you address anything left unsaid.
Do you provide new quotes, introduce a new element, or say something
unrelated to what you have already mentioned.

If so, remove it.
STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND
CITATION
Page formatting in MLA is straightforward.
 Your font needs to be Times New Roman size 12.


Make sure that the font of your last name and page
number matches.
Your paper should be evenly double-spaced with
no additional spaces between paragraphs, titles
or headers.
 Margins should be 1-inch on all sides
 All paragraphs should be left aligned and
indented ½-inch.
 Your last name and page number should appear
on the right-hand side of the header of every
page.

STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND
CITATION



Your first page should contain an MLA Heading which should be
left aligned and double spaced.
It should also include you title which should not be bolded,
italicized, underlined, or in quotes.
Your first page should look like this:
Doe 1
John Doe
Ms. Painter
English I – Period 2
21 October 2011
Pride: The Enemy of Love
STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND
CITATION

Proper MLA in-text citation for “The Scarlet Ibis”
looks like this:
(Hurst 467)
Author’s Last Name| Page #


If your quote already contains quotation marks
change all quotation marks inside your quotation into
apostrophes.
Example: “He’d nod his head and I’d say, ‘Well, if you
don’t keep trying, you’ll never learn’” (Hurst 467).
STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND
CITATION

If your quotation ends with a period or a comma
leave it off of the end of the quotation and place a
period after the citation.


Example: “He’d nod his head and I’d say, ‘Well, if you
don’t keep trying, you’ll never learn” (Hurst 467).
If your quotation ends with a question mark or
exclamation point, leave it, then place a period
after the citation.

Example: “What are the words that can solder
cracked pride?” (Hurst 474).
STEP 5: CHECK FOR ACADEMIC TONE

Identify any use of first person point of view (I, me, my, mine, we, us,
our, ours) and eliminate them.


Find and eliminate all uses of second person (you, your, yours, and
command sentences)



Instead of saying: “I think the theme is…”, say: “The theme is…” Then
prove it.
In writing YOU means the reader, and I really doubt that you are referring
to me.
Use third person instead.(Examples: one, a person, people, the reader)
Find and eliminate all contractions (can’t, don’t, it’s, etc.).

As a matter of academic tone, it is inappropriate to use contractions in
your formal writing. Write out both words (it’s = it is).

DO NOT curse! (That should not have to be said.)

Do not use the exclamation point. It conveys the tone of yelling at
your reader. Use stronger words for emphasis, not punctuation.
STEP 6: CHECK FOR SPELLING,
CAPITALIZATION, PUNCTUATION, AND GRAMMAR
ERRORS

Always proofread your work. Little mistakes can kill an
otherwise good paper.






Make sure that whenever you mention “The Scarlet Ibis” it is
in quotes, not underlined or italicized.
Capitalize all proper nouns.
Check the spelling of words you are unsure of.
Double check to make sure that you have used the words you
mean (its not it’s / envelop not envelope/ since not sense).
Read you paper out loud to make sure that what you have
written makes sense when spoken.
Have someone else read your work to look for mistakes for the
best results.