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Checklist for Writing Assignments
  1. Follow the “MLA at a Glance” sheet that you have been given for margins, spacing, heading, title, and page numbers for all writing assignments.

  2. The title of your paper should not be the title of the piece of literature you are writing about (if writing about literature). The title should reflect the content of the paper. The title should not be underlined, enclosed in quotation marks, or italicized. (If the title of a piece is part of the paper’s title, the title of the piece must be properly identified with quotation marks or italics.)

  3. Use regular indentations for paragraphs. Do not put extra line spaces between paragraphs or anywhere else in the paper.

  4. When using a quote, always explain, interpret, and tie it in to your ideas. It cannot stand on its own.

  5. In general, do not use first personand second person pronouns in your writing unless their use is in quotes. This includes words such as I, me, my, we, us, you, your, and yours.

    *Statements such as “In my opinion,” “I think,” “I believe,” “I feel,” “In my paper,” and “In this paper I will” weaken arguments. Even if you are stating an opinion or trying to persuade, first person pronouns can and should be avoided by using statements such as, “Clearly, the best show ever on television is Seinfeld,” rather than, “I think Seinfeld is the best television show ever.”

    It is generally appropriate to use first person pronouns in personal essays.

  6. Always write about literature in the present tense.

  7. Avoid “to be” verbs and passive voice. Use strong, descriptive, active verbs.

  8. Do not use informal language (slang). This includes words such as “gonna,” “stuff,” “cool,” “awesome,” as well as many more.

    *This also includes contractions (don’t, won’t, can’t, etc.).

  9. Use transitions (however, for example, to begin, etc.) throughout your writing, especially at the beginnings of body paragraphs. These help the reader move easily from one idea to the next and help your writing flow smoothly.

  10. Do not plagiarize. Unless you are using a direct quote, any information taken from a source, such as a short story or a novel, must be in your own words.

  11. Proofread your papers carefully before handing them in.

    *Reading your work aloud can be very helpful when proofreading. You often hear mistakes (when you read the work aloud) that you do not pick out when reading silently.

  12. Always make sure you follow the directions and guidelines given to you for any writing assignment.



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