____ Introduction has a clear thesis statement
____ Introduction mentions the title of the novel
____ Introduction gives and thesis relate to a “big question”
____ Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence
Topic sentences explain what the whole paragraph is about
Topic sentences relate to thesis statement
____ Each paragraph basically makes sense read on it’s own
____ there are at least two (2) quotes from the book
____ each quote is introduced (who is speaking, about when in the book)
____ what each quote is explained thoroughly
____ each quote has a parenthetical citation in correct format (see blog for examples)
____ all longer quotes are block indented, single spaced, no quotation marks
____ shorter quotes are inside quotation marks, parenthetical followed by end mark
____ Spelling is generally correct Use the following tips:
•Use spell check.
•Circle words that might be wrong and look them up.
____ All sentences begin with a capital letter?
____ Each sentence ends with the correct punctuation mark. ( . ! ? ; )
____ Titles of novel is italicized or underlined. Nouns and verbs and first word capitalized.
____ Comma usage is correct:
•Commas separate items in a series.
•Commas precede coordinating conjunctions (and, but, so, for or, nor, yet) in compound sentences.
•Commas DO NOT separate two complete sentences. (This is called a comma splice).
____ Apostrophes are used to show possession or to mark contractions or to show missing numbers (as in ‘99)?
____ All proper names of people, places and things are capitalized.
____ Check subjects and verbs to see that they agree in tense and in number.
•I/am or We are and He/she is and They are
____ There is an appropriate title that reflects the main topic of the essay.
____ Actions in the book are presented in “Eternal Present Tense,” e.g. Holden watches a football game in Chapter 1. Then he goes to visit his teacher.”
Arms and the man I sing, who, forced by fateNot that in this kind of quote quotation marks are not used (unless there is dialogue). The citation (page reference) occurs after the final period. The quote is introduced (who is talking, what is the context of the quote), then preceded by a colon (:). As in every use of a quote for evidence, the quote is followed by an explanation of what it means.
And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate,
Expelled and exiled, left the Trojan shore.
Long labors, both by sea and land, he bore;
And in the doubtful war, before he won
The Latin realm and built the destined town,
His banished gods restored to rights divine,
And settled sure succession in his line;
From whence the race of Alban fathers come,
And the long glories of majestic Rome. (Dryden 1)
The play he saw was based on the Illiad, but these lines, too, show the focus on war and honor that was part of ancient society.
