Before Your Final Draft Submission

Proofreading & Polishing Checklist

1.       MLA heading—is it correct?  Is it four lines of info in the right order?  Is the date in MLA format?
 
2.      Your title—do you have one?  Is it actually your title rather than the title of the literature?  If it includes the title of the literature, is that punctuated correctly?  Does your title have the word “essay” in it?  Get rid of it.  Make sure your title informs the content of your analysis rather than a label of the rhetorical mode.  Is it capitalized correctly?  Remember you capitalize first and last words and all words in between EXCEPT a, an, the, and, but, for, nor, or, yet, and all little prepositions under five letters.
 
3.      Title and author—included?  Capitalized and spelled correctly…every time?  Use the Find feature to check.  Punctuated correctly?  Remember that full-length works (novels, plays, anthologies) are italicized while smaller works (short stories, poems, one-act plays) are in quotation marks.  Use Find to make sure you did this every time.
 
4.      MLA format—correctly indented paragraphs?  Did you use the tab rather than space bar?  Double-spaced?
 
5.      Spacing and margins—all the same?  Nothing funky?
 
6.      MLA citations—included?  At the end of the sentence unless there is more than one citation in the sentence?  Is the citation part of a sentence (meaning there is end punctuation AFTER the citation)?
 
7.      Check each quote—did you copy it EXACTLY as the author wrote it?  If you made alterations for flow and clarity, did you denote the SUBSTITUTIONS with brackets?  Is the quote itself a complete sentence? If not, is it PART of a complete sentence with your own commentary?  Does the punctuation you use to intro the quote or transition out of the quote work to make the sentence complete and correct?
 
8.     Quote within a quote—do you have any of these?  If so, did you alternate double and single quotation marks:  Some people “believed this idea too ‘McLuhanesque’ for their taste” (Postman 43).
 
9.      Long quotes—do you have any of these? A quote that is more than four normally typed lines in your paper?  You should avoid these BUT if you do include one, did you use long quote format?  Look up the proper way to do it on the Purdue OWL or in the MLA Handbook.
 
10.  Hamburger method—did you use it?  Is every quote in your body introduced and explained?
11.   Commas—use the Find feature to search and check that you have followed the basic rules correctly.  I’ve listed them below.  If you need more info than I’ve provided, see the Purdue OWL for help.

a.      Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.

b.      Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.

c.       Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause.

d.      Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential.

e.      Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series.

f.        Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer to the beginning or middle of the sentence. Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere in the sentence without causing confusion. (If the placement of the modifier causes confusion, then it is not "free" and must remain "bound" to the word it modifies.)

g.       Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation.

12.  Hypen vs. dash—use the Find feature to search for a hyphen (-).  Are you using it correctly?  Is it making multiple words into one? With no spaces on either side?  Or are you using it as a dash (--) that interrupts a thought or denotes a long pause?
 
13.  Read the entire piece out loud to yourself—listen for places you get tripped up.  Revise those areas for better transition, flow, or clarity by looking at punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice.  If the sentence goes on for two or three lines, it’s likely a run-on that could be revised.  If your flow is choppy, you probably have a lot of simple sentences or compound sentences.  Use the Find feature to search for “and” or “but”—these are places you could revise for better flow.
 
14.  Semicolon—did you use any?  Do you need to use fewer “and”s?  A semicolon is used to connect two complete sentences WITHOUT a conjunction.

Use the Find feature to search for and double-check these commonly misused words:

a.      It’s (it is)
b.      Its (possessive)
c.       Your (possessive
d.      You’re (you are)
e.      Here (place)
f.        Hear (to listen)
g.      There (place)
h.     Their (possessive
i.        They’re (they are)
j.        To
k.      Too (also or excessive amount)
l.        Two (number)
m.   Witch (on a broom)
n.     Which (which one—this or that)
o.      Where (place)
p.      Wear (on your person)
q.      Were (past tense passive verb)
r.       We’re (we are)

Lit Analysis Finish Work

You're entire paper should be written now.  We have two things left to do:

1.  Silent Reading Table

You'll bring a paper copy of your essay to class with you on Monday.  If you will miss class for ANY REASON, please email me your essay (to ms.kim.grissom@gmail.com) BEFORE your class meets to ensure that you get feedback as well.  This is your last chance to get helpful feedback for revision before you turn in your final for a grade.

The feedback for this activity will focus on good points, evidence, and writing; questions or areas for clarification; and ideas for improvement.  This will NOT be an editing session, though you may make (or receive) general comments such as "messy mechanics--be sure to edit" or "make sure you check your 'you' and 'I' usage" or "you really love commas" as ideas for improvement.

2.  Self-editing/Polishing Handout

After Monday, I will post information here on the blog to help you walk through your revised, completed draft for editing and polishing details.  Next year you'll be going to college.  It is time--perhaps past time--to learn a few simple rules for yourself.  I'll provide you with a checklist, a good strategy, and some important rules to follow to make your final draft grade-ready.

Extra Credit Opportunities

There are a variety of cultural/literary events listed below.  Attending one of them can earn you extra credit.  For the performances, you must bring me your ticket stubs and/or program by 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22.  For the other events, you should write a reflective journal explaining what you saw/heard at the event and your reaction (what you found interesting, thoughts, or your opinion/thoughts that it made you consider).  I would need your journal entry on paper or emailed to me by the same day and time.

Leaving Czechoslovakia Exhibit Opening

Wednesday, Oct 17 | 7 p.m.

Cost: Free, but RSVP is required
Location: Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, Downtown Des Moines
This event is co-sponsored by the Iowa International Center, the Des Moines Public Library and Drake University, and is made possible by a grant from Humanities Iowa.

From 2009 through 2011, more than 150 interviews were conducted by the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library through its landmark project, Recording Voices & Documenting Memories of Czech & Slovak Americans. No one could have anticipated the personal drama conveyed in these stories.

Leaving Czechoslovakia presents the stories of 20th-century Czech and Slovak émigrés to America in their own words. Speakers at the opening will include Dr. Kieran Williams of Drake University, Dr. Mila Saskova-Pierce of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Recording Voices interviewee Peter Vodenka.

This event is free and open to the public, however an RSVP is required. RSVP to Rosie Johnston via email – rjohnston@ncsml.org – by October 12.

Women Writers Forum

Sunday, Oct 21 | 2 p.m.

Cost: Free
Location: Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, Downtown Des Moines
Sponsored by the Conlin Family Foundation

The Women Writers Forum will highlight the works of women writers, whose works specifically represent the female perspective. Authors will have the opportunity to read from one of their original works, and then take questions from audience members who are fans of the author, or have interest in specific genre of each author, as well as those hoping to have their works published.  Anne Carothers-Kay, Managing Editor of The Business Record, will be moderator for the forum.

Theatre Simpson: University

Friday, October 12 at 7:30pm 

Buy Tickets

Event runs from October 12 to October 14

Blank Performing Art Center, Barnum Studio Theatre, Indianola

University is an evening of short plays that focus on the lives, loves, struggles, and triumphs of a group of university students as they navigate their way through the complicated world of a college campus.

This show will play for two weekends in the Barnum Studio Theatre.

Cost: Adults $10.00; Non-Simpson Students $9.00; Groups 10+ $8.00; Student Groups $8.00

Les Miserable
Already happened, but you can use it if you went when it was here at the Civic Center




Des Moines Art Center--Journaling Activity
Visit the Art Center, explore the exhibits, and then choose either one piece you find interesting to write about or reflect on the Art Center exhibits as a whole.  Write about what you saw that you liked, didn't understand, find interesting, etc.

Hours of Operation
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 11 am — 4 pm
Thursday, 11 am — 9 pm
Saturday, 10 am — 4 pm
Sunday, Noon — 4 pm
Closed Monday
Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
515.277.4405  
FREE admission 

Meet Anthony Robles
Born with one leg, NCAA Wrestling Champion Anthony Robles will discuss his inspiring book, UNSTOPPABLE: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion.
Date:  Monday, October 15
Location: Des Moines Central Library, Meeting Room One, Two, Three
Event Type: Author Visit
Age Group(s): Adult
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Contact:  Jan Kaiser jdkaiser@dmpl.org

Description:

 Anthony Robles is a 3-time All-American wrestler, Nike-sponsored athlete, ESPN Analyst, and motivational speaker. A graduate of Arizona State University, he is the 2011 NCAA National Wrestling Champion and finished his senior year with a 36-0 record. Robles received the “Jimmy V Perseverance Award” at the 2011 ESPY’s, is a recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.

Poetry Project

AP Literature 

In-Depth Poet Study

Now that you have studied all of the ways poets use language to express meaning, I'd like you to spend some time studying one poet in-depth.  Doing so will give you an opportunity to critically read a number of poems, practice your own analysis and interpretation of those poems, do some explication, complete some biographical research on the poet, and present your findings as an "expert."  In addition to the practice this project will give you in analysis and interpretation, I also want you to begin to see and understand the way an individual poet develops a style, common motifs, or comes back again and again to the same forms and poetic devices.

You will be working in groups for this project, but only the presentation will be a group grade.  The major portions of the project will be individual, though your group can work as moral support.

The Steps:

• Choose your poet and your group. 
• Read a representative sampling of the poet's work--that means enough that you can see the kind of poetry your poet writes, including the various motifs and poetic devices your poet explores.  This is all about increasing your exposure to poetry--the more exposure you have, the more practice you get working with all the poetic devices you just learned about, the more experience you have in analysis, the more comfortable you will feel when presented with it in the future.
• Discuss the poems you read with your group.  Work together to understand them, to analyze them, to bounce ideas for interpretation off of each other.  You all know by now how helpful class discussion can be for any piece of literature, so use your group to help you better understand your own ideas. 
• Individually, complete an informal explication of one short poem (that is a line-by-line analysis) AND a write-up that synthesizes the poet's background, literary importance, and style.  Include the poetic devices, forms, etc. (all the stuff we covered in your textbook) the poet seems to use, favor, etc.  Also include common motifs and/or themes they write about.  Make sure you cite examples from their various poetry as evidence of these claims.  There is no length requirement for this write-up.  Your criteria is that it be long enough--long enough to do a good job, make a comprehensive study, and cite evidence for your claims. While this is informal (no real "essay rules" and I am your only audience), you should still use MLA citations properly as evidence to ME of your actual knowledge and reasonable interpretation.
• As a group, present your poet to the class.  Be prepared to share with the class some of the poet's work and your synthesis as the experts on that poet.  You will have 15-20 minutes to present your poet as experts and everyone in your group should contribute equally to the presentation.  You should complete a LITTLE biographical information in your presentation and you should cite those sources either as a slide in your presentation document (if you use one) or on paper.  One per group is fine.  This should be the ONLY RESEARCH YOU DO.  This assignment is about YOUR analysis.  I do not want you to read criticism.  When it comes to your poetry test or the AP exam, you will have no critics to help you.