Revising Checklist

REVISING CHECKLISTFor “The Scarlet Ibis” Interpretive Essay

Before we begin, you will need the following colors of pencil, marker, pen, highlighter or crayon:

Red Blue

Yellow Orange Black

It is important to take notes on your draft. Your success on this paper will depend on notes that you take and the changes you make.

STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.

The mistake that you do not want to make on your essay is either not addressing the prompt at all, not addressing the prompt fully, or not addressing the prompt correctly.

If you fail to follow the prompt, you will fail the assignment.

STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED THE PROMPT CORRECTLY.Prompt: Interpret the meaning of

“The Scarlet Ibis.” Select one theme of the story and analyze how literary elements like foreshadowing, symbolism, personification, simile, metaphor, and/or imagery contribute to that theme.

STEP 1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ADDRESSED THE PROMPT CORRECTLY. Ask yourself:

Does my paper interpret “The Scarlet Ibis?”

Does my paper select and discuss a theme from the story?

Remember that a theme is not a subject. Bad Example: Life (This is a subject not a

theme) Theme is the author’s message about that

subject Good Example: Life is a fragile thing that

should not be taken for granted. (This is a potential theme)


Does your essay present a theme that is valid, strong, and provable with evidence from the text?Bad Example: The greatest bond in life is

the bond between father and son and should be valued.

Good Example: Pride is a dangerous thing because it can lead to selfish actions that can be potentially dangerous to others.


Does your essay examine how TWO literary elements from the story contribute to that theme? Literary elements include but are not

limited to simile, metaphor, personification, imagery, symbolism, irony, motif, and foreshadowing. If you have used something other than these

elements check with me to make sure it is appropriate.

You should ideally have one body paragraph devoted to each literary element.

STEP 2: MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR COMPONENTS

Do you have FOUR paragraphs?If you do not, make sure you add

whatever you are missing. Failure to meet the paragraph requirements will result in failure of the assignment.

These paragraphs should consist of an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

STEP 2: MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR COMPONENTS

You need to make sure that your reader (in this case me) is able to clearly identify all of the components listed on your shaping sheet.

As we go through the next few sections of this checklist, you will be asked to identify each element. If you are missing any element, expect

severe point deductions, so pay close attention.

Make notes on anything you have wrong.

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTS

The Title

Your title should be original and creative.

If you have chosen something like “The Scarlet Ibis”, try again. This is the title of the short story; it should not be the title of your essay. You can do better than that.

Your title can be either: creative (Example - Pride: The Enemy of Love) or informative (Example - The Nature of Love in

“The Scarlet Ibis”


Paragraph 1: The Introduction The introduction’s purpose is to capture your reader’s

attention and to introduce the subject of your paper.

Length: Is your introduction at least 5 sentences long?

Flow: Does each sentence of the introduction clearly progress into the next? Make sure that sentences that are next to each other

have something in common. Make sure you are transitioning.

Organization: Does it begin with a statement that is going to grab your reader’s attention and end with your thesis statement?


Paragraph 1: The Introduction Does your introduction end with your thesis

statement? Underline your thesis statement in red.

The thesis statement should explain to the reader the purpose of the essay and provide an outline of the points you will be making in your body paragraphs.

EXAMPLE: In “The Scarlet Ibis,” James Hurst uses irony and personification to suggest that pride has the ability to cause destruction.


Paragraph 1: The Introduction Does my thesis statement explain my position?

It should explain what you think a valid theme of “The Scarlet Ibis” is.

Remember that a theme is the author’s intended message or lesson about a particular subject.

Themes should not be one word or state specific events from the story.

Does my thesis include an outline of the two literary elements I believe the author uses to establish this theme? Label each of these points with #1 and #2 in red. If you have not included these in the thesis you need to

make sure that you add them.


Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body ParagraphsUse the following steps for both body

paragraphs

Each of your body paragraphs should explain how one of the two literary elements Hurst is using to establish the theme of the story supports the theme.

Is this the focus of your body paragraphs? If not, you need to make sure that you adapt

your body paragraphs to meet this requirement.


Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body ParagraphsUse the following steps for both body paragraphs

Each of your body paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence. The purpose of the topic sentence is to explain what that

paragraph will be about. It should not directly say “The purpose of this paragraph is…”

or “In this paragraph, I am going to tell you about”.

The topic sentence must directly relate to one of the 2 literary elements have selected from the text to support the theme.

EXAMPLE: One way that Hurst establishes the dangerous and destructive nature of pride is through his use of irony.

Underline your topic sentences in blue.

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTSParagraphs 2 and 3: The Body Paragraphs

Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Each of your body paragraphs should contain at least 2 concrete details. Concrete details are quotations from the text which are used as

evidence to prove the point you are trying to make in that paragraph.

In other words, If you believe that Hurst is using “The Scarlet Ibis” to warn about the destructive nature of pride. You need to pull a quotation from the text that can prove that point. If it does not change it.

The quotation should be an example of the literary element that you are discussing in that paragraph. If is not, change it.

Underline your concrete details in yellow.

There should be 4 quotations total (2 per body paragraph). If not, make sure you find and add more. Points will be deducted for missing quotations.



Quotations should be relevant. DO NOT choose a quotation that is vague, unclear, or does not support your point. The test of a really good quotation is: Without any

explanation, would the reader (i.e.: me) be able to make a connection between the quotation and the point of your paragraph?

If you fake or falsify quotations from the text and your are caught, it will result in failure of the assignment.

You may change minor words in the quote for clarification as long as they are placed in brackets. For example: He can become [Doodle].



Your quotations should not directly follow your topic sentences or your commentary for the previous quotation. There needs to be a transition in which you ideally

introduce or establish the context of the quotation, but be careful not to over summarize.

Your concrete details should not stand alone as their own sentences. They should fit into your own thoughts.

Example: While reflecting on how his past actions have hurt the one’s who are closest to him, the narrator states that “pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death” (Hurst 467).



Your concrete details should be followed by commentary. This is where you make the bulk of your argument. The purpose of commentary is to explain HOW the

quotation you used helps to prove the point of your paragraph, and WHY that is important to your thesis.

In other words, if your body paragraph is about how the author uses irony to prove that prove that pride leads to destruction, your commentary should explain how the situation presented in the quote is ironic and how this example leads the reader to believe that pride leads to destruction.


Use the following steps for both body paragraphs

Underline your commentary in orange. Do each of your commentaries contain at least 2-3

sentences? If not, you have probably have not explained yourself well

enough and points will most likely be deducted. Suggestion: Sentence 1 may explain how the quote

supports the point of the body paragraph (how is this quote an example of the literary element). Sentence 2 may explain how the quote supports the point of the essay (how does this quote support the theme of the story).

Things to watch out for: Your commentary should not simply explain what the

quotation already says. Avoid clichés like “This quote shows…” Every commentary should say something about the theme.


Paragraphs 2 and 3: The Body ParagraphsUse the following steps for both body

paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should end with concluding sentences. The concluding sentence should emphasize the

point you are trying to make by combining the ideas presented in your body paragraph.

For example: In both of the previously discussed situations, the

narrator gives in to his pride in himself, which ultimately spells disaster for both him and his whole family.

Underline your concluding sentences in black.


Use the following steps for both body paragraphs General Notes:

Make sure that each of your body paragraphs addresses only one literary element (unless I have given you approval to do otherwise).

Make sure that you only have one paragraph per element.

Make sure that you have 2 concrete details per paragraph.

Make sure that you use transition words, phrases, or sentences to connect unrelated ideas.

Make sure that your paragraphs are in the same order that they were laid out in your thesis statement. (If you mention irony and foreshadowing in that order in the thesis

statement, make sure they are in that order in the body paragraphs)


Paragraph 4: The Conclusion The conclusion is the final paragraph of your

essay. It should revisit your main points and serve to emphasize the main idea you are trying to get across in your essay.

It should give a sense of finality.

It should NOT introduce any new information. (No new quotes from the text)

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR COMPONENTSParagraphs 5: The Conclusion

Is your conclusion at least 4 sentences long? If not, expand. You haven’t said enough.

Does it explain what the theme of the story is? If not, state your position.

Does it repeat any of the exact wording from elsewhere in the essay? If so, change it.

Does your essay feel unfinished? Is there something you have left unanswered? If so, make sure you address anything left unsaid.

Do you provide new quotes, introduce a new element, or say something unrelated to what you have already mentioned. If so, remove it.

STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND CITATION Page formatting in MLA is straightforward. Your font needs to be Times New Roman size

12. Make sure that the font of your last name and

page number matches. Your paper should be evenly double-spaced

with no additional spaces between paragraphs, titles or headers.

Margins should be 1-inch on all sides All paragraphs should be left aligned and

indented ½-inch. Your last name and page number should

appear on the right-hand side of the header of every page.

STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND CITATION Your first page should contain an MLA Heading which should

be left aligned and double spaced. It should also include you title which should not be bolded,

italicized, underlined, or in quotes. Your first page should look like this:

Doe 1

John Doe

Ms. Painter

English I – Period 2

21 October 2011

Pride: The Enemy of Love

STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND CITATION

Proper MLA in-text citation for “The Scarlet Ibis” looks like this:

(Hurst 467)

Author’s Last Name| Page #

If your quote already contains quotation marks change all quotation marks inside your quotation into apostrophes.

Example: “He’d nod his head and I’d say, ‘Well, if you don’t keep trying, you’ll never learn’” (Hurst 467).

STEP 4 CHECK YOUR FORMATTING AND CITATION

If your quotation ends with a period or a comma leave it off of the end of the quotation and place a period after the citation. Example: “He’d nod his head and I’d say, ‘Well, if

you don’t keep trying, you’ll never learn” (Hurst 467).

If your quotation ends with a question mark or exclamation point, leave it, then place a period after the citation. Example: “What are the words that can solder

cracked pride?” (Hurst 474).

STEP 5: CHECK FOR ACADEMIC TONE Identify any use of first person point of view (I, me, my, mine,

we, us, our, ours) and eliminate them. Instead of saying: “I think the theme is…”, say: “The theme is…”

Then prove it.

Find and eliminate all uses of second person (you, your, yours, and command sentences) In writing YOU means the reader, and I really doubt that you are

referring to me. Use third person instead.(Examples: one, a person, people, the

reader)

Find and eliminate all contractions (can’t, don’t, it’s, etc.). As a matter of academic tone, it is inappropriate to use contractions

in your formal writing. Write out both words (it’s = it is).

DO NOT curse! (That should not have to be said.)

Do not use the exclamation point. It conveys the tone of yelling at your reader. Use stronger words for emphasis, not punctuation.

STEP 6: CHECK FOR SPELLING, CAPITALIZATION, PUNCTUATION, AND GRAMMAR ERRORS

Always proofread your work. Little mistakes can kill an otherwise good paper. Make sure that whenever you mention “The Scarlet Ibis” it

is in quotes, not underlined or italicized. Capitalize all proper nouns. Check the spelling of words you are unsure of. Double check to make sure that you have used the words

you mean (its not it’s / envelop not envelope/ since not sense).

Read you paper out loud to make sure that what you have written makes sense when spoken.

Have someone else read your work to look for mistakes for the best results.

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Revising Checklist