EngC1011 University Writing and Critical Reading

The Peer Pre-Grading Workshop

Kevin L. Callahan

EngC1011 Writing Instructor

E-mail: call0031@tc.umn.edu

Telephone: (612) 623-7685

Educational Goals:

Students will practice their editing skills by applying a specific 40 point checklist to pre-grade a final draft.

Instructions:

Exchange your final draft with another student (at another table) per your instructor's directions. Pre-grade the student's paper using the following evaluation process.

Question	Yes (one point)	There is a problem	No
APA Format 1. Is there a running head and increasing page numbers on each page of the paper in the upper right hand corner?
2. Is the abbreviated running head "title" i.e., about the fourth line down on the cover page and either on the left margin or in the center, all in capitals? (Longman, 2000, p.718).
3. Is the title of the paper slightly above the center of the page?
4. Is the title, name of the author, and institutional affiliation double spaced ?
5. Is the instructor's name, class name, section number, and date somewhere near the bottom of the cover page?
6. Is the Abstract page double spaced?
7. Is the paper summarized in less than 120 words?
8. Did the author follow the rule NOT to indent the first line of the abstract?
9. Is there a title for the paper (unbolded and unitalicized in 12 point font) at the top of page 3?
10. Is the paper double spaced with 12 point font and Times New Roman font?
11. Does the References page follow the APA format for an article in a journal paginated by issue (Longman, 2000, p.709). For example: Wurzbacher, K. V., & Moore, E. J. (1991). Effects of school. Journal of Youth, 12(7), 549-554.
12. Is there are an Appendix which follows the References page with an illustration?
13. Is there a citation and a caption or title with the illustration?
Literacy 14. Are all words in the paper spelled correctly?
15. Has the author avoided the comma splice error throughout the paper, i.e., using a comma to link two sentences when they should have used either: (a) a period and capitalized the beginning of the second sentence, or (b) a semicolon followed by an uncapitalized independent clause?
16. Are commas used correctly everywhere in the paper?
17. Has the author avoided sentence fragments i.e., partial sentences?
18. Is the past tense consistently used to describe completed research and events?
19. Has the author avoided using awkward or imprecise word choices throughout the paper?
20. Has the author avoided typos and "missing words" in sentences?
21. Has the author entirely avoided slang and cliches in the paper?
22. Have contractions been entirely avoided in the paper e.g., "shouldn't" instead of should not?
23. Is there "subject-verb agreement" in all sentences? e.g. "The editors (plural) are important," rather than "The editors is important."
24. Have apostrophes been used correctly throughout the paper to show possession?
25. Does the paper appear to have been carefully proofread for errors?
Logic and Rhetoric 26. Are all of the points that are made by the author supported and persuasive?
27. Does the author summarize the ideas of others accurately?
28. Is there obvious evidence of an investment of effort, critical thinking, and intellectual energy?
Content 29. Has the author covered each of the topics required by the assignment?
30. Is the content of the paper sufficiently thorough, informative, insightful, or persuasive i.e., are the topics given sufficient treatment?
31. Is there good support for the thesis and topic sentences?
32. Is the title interesting or "catchy" i.e., not dull or unimaginative?
Organization 33. Is there a thesis statement in the first paragraph that is obvious and unambiguous and sums up the main idea of the paper ?
34. Is the paper within Ľ page of the length stated for the assignment? Disregard any "tricks" for extending or shortening papers.
35. Is there a significant conclusion with points related to the thesis?
36. Are all of the paragraph breaks where they should be?
37. Are all paragraphs organized to have a topic sentence and supporting information or explanatory support?
Clarity 38. Are all the words and sentences clear in their meaning and intelligible and do all of the ideas and arguments make sense?
39. Do the sentences flow smoothly and "please the ear" i.e., are not "clunky" or abrupt?
40. Are "in text" quotations and citations done properly and are all ideas and words of others properly cited?

TOTAL