Revision Stations Review Sheet

Brooks Lampe / 2016

References

Style
1.

Every source you use in your essay is cited according to your class
sections citation system (see web site Journal page).
Every citation accurately identifies the source (if links, the link works).
Most or all references are summarized or paraphrased; only a few
quotations.
For most or all references, write an attribution phrase identifying the
sources author, article title, or other identifying information, as you
determined is most rhetorically appropriate (E.g., According to).
Quotations that span more than three lines in your essay must be block
quoted.
Block quotes are indented an additional inch from the left (2 total from left
edge of page).
For block quotes, remove the double quotation marks around the
quotation.
For block quotes, the citation goes outside of the final period or
punctuation mark.
There is no extra spacing before or after block quote (one double-spaced
line).

General Statement: It is common these days to walk into a bar and

see almost everyone on their phones.
2.

Turn questions into statements.

If more women have equivalent degrees or higher degrees than
men, why are men outnumbering them in the workforce?
i
More women have equivalent or higher degrees than men, but men
are outnumbering them in the workforce.
Exceptions: Questions work well sometimes, especially in your title,
subtitle, or carefully worded questions at key points. Its a judgment
call.

Formatting
3.
page number in the top right of each page
top left of front page should list your name, my name (Dr. Brooks Lampe),
the course number (ENGL110) and the submission date
article has a creative title and subtitle
the title and subtitle appear just below the heading, is centered, with no
special font styles or quotes
a colon after the title; the subtitle begins on a new line (centered)
every word in the title and subtitle is capitalized except for articles (a, an,
the) and coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor, etc)
the entire essay is double-spaced with no extra space before or after the
title, paragraphs, or block quotes
all type is the same size, 12pt (except footnotes, 10pt), nothing bolded
italicize titles of long works (books, movies, web site names) and put
quotes around titles of shorter works (article titles, poems, youtube videos)
the body of the article (not counting references) is 1800 words (+/- 50)

Turn hypotheticals into real examples (best) or general claims (okay).

You walk into a bar and see everyone on their iPhones. No one is
talking to each other.
i
Real Example: Last night in Newark, Delaware, of the hundreds of
UD students at Grottos, the local watering hole, only a few were
talking to strangers. The rest were on their phones.

Delete obvious statements or to give them tension by adding a phrase

that challenges the statement or increases its complexity.
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have changed society forever.
i
Give tension: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have changed
society foreveror so it seems.

Proofreading
Proofread for typos and inconsistencies. Starting at the end of your essay,
read each sentence, one at a time, in reverse order.
Common mistakes to look for:
Incorrectly autocorrected words: thorough vs. through; theses vs.
these, etc.
The first time you mention someones name, give the first and last name.
After that, only give the last name.
Inconsistent verb tense
Inconsistent plural pronouns: When a student gets on Facebook, their
mind wanders. When a student gets on Facebook, her mind wanders.
Hyperbole: At this rate, no one will have any more fulfilling relationships!

Topic Sentences Station

First Sentences of Story Paragraphs
Specific: Use proper nouns (e.g., The University of Delaware, Michael,
Super Mario Cart) rather than generic nouns (a university, a student, a
video game).
Action: Use a verb that shows the character doing (picked, swiped) not
being (was/is/are).
External Acts: Describe an action in the physical, external world (he
crashed the Honda Civic), not a characters mind (he thought about
crashing).
Concision: Omit needless words. Shorten wordy phrases. Short and
snappy is best.
Low-ladder: For story paragraphs, stay as low on the ladder abstraction as
possible.
First Sentences of Other Paragraphs
Point Down to the paragraph: What is the paragraphs point? State it.
Point Up to the bigger picture: Why does this point matter in the bigger
picture? Show it.
Directly Name the Topic: Snapchat is better than This app, even if
its clear from the previous paragraph what youre referring to.
Positive Form: Put statements in positive form. Avoid no and not.
Concision: Omit needless words. Shorten wordy phrases. Short and
snappy is best.