This I Believe essay check

Check off the following in your essay:

Stated your beliefTold a storyWrote 350-500 wordsSaid what you DO believe not what you don’t

believe

Narrative check

Check your story to make sure you:

Included specific, concrete detailsFocused on a moment you learned or came to

realize something (which reflects your belief statement)

Told your story in a conversational tone

Step 1

How’s it Look? How’s it Sound? Using your highlighter, mark up your essays to improve:

Sentences that sound clumsy or confusing.Sentences that could be more descriptive or written

with a stronger voice.

Step 2

Think Goodness Using your highlighter, mark up your essay to

show:Sentences, words, phrases you think

are nice.Paragraphs you struggled with and

succeeded. Paragraphs you are proud of.

Step 3

Re-Vision Using your highlighter, mark up your essay to show:

One complete paragraph you want to re-envision

OR4 disconnected sentence that need re-vision

REWRITE THE PARAGRAPH or SENTENCES ON THE BACK OF YOUR PAPER.

Step 4

Essay Mechanic Using your highlighter, mark up your essay to identify:

Any sentence fragmentsAny run-on sentencesAny comma splicesAny words you’re unsure you spelled correctlyAny other grammatical or mechanical issue

Step 5

The Things You (Could’ve) Left Behind Using your highlighter, mark up your essay to

show:

Any words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs you could do without.

Step 6

• Revise for hedgers, gushers, and absolutes. Find ‘em and cross ‘em out.

Hedgers:Maybe, might, kind of,

sometimes, it seems like…Gushers:Very, so, really,

overwhelmingly….Absolutes:Always, never, all the time…