1. Use headers, that is, your last name
and page number should be in the upper right hand corner of the page.
2. Use quotations around articles, essay
titles and put book and magazine titles in italics.
3. When you use quotations, the
quotation marks go OUTSIDE the periods and commas. We read in McMahon’s blog,
that “gluttony is celebrated as a high virtue in our dumbed-down society.”
4. Be sure your subject-verb agreement
is correct. A pattern of these errors makes it impossible to earn higher than a
C grade. Go to a tutor if you must. You should be able to write correct
subject-verb by the time you’re in English 1A.
5. Create a distinct essay title.
6. Follow the MLA format instructions correctly.
7. Spell “Works Cited” correctly. Don’t
write “Work Cited” or “Work Cite” or “Bibliography”
8. Refer to author’s last name, not the
first name, unless you know the author.
9. Spell my last name correctly: It’s
Jeffrey McMahon, not “Jeffery Mcmahon”
10.
Staple
the pages in the correct order.
11.
Use
a ribbon that I can read. Blurs, streaks, blotches, gaps are unreadable.
12.
Write
complete sentences. Don’t begin your essay: “McMahon’s reference in his blog:
“Obesity is a complex disease that defies easy diagnosis or analysis.”
13.
Vary
your paragraph transitions. Don’t write, “First, second, third, etc.” And don’t
write, “The first reason is . . .” “The second reason is . . .” Avoid
redundancy.
14.
Polish
your punctuation. For example, don’t use a comma after although: Although,
obesity is considered a sin; we should have compassion on fat people. Here’s
the correct way: Although obesity is considered a sin, we should have
compassion for fat people.
15.
One
thing I’ve learned about students: Students who are fastidious, that is, they
pay close attention to details, are showing a high predictor for success, not
just in my class, but for life. Students who are lax and careless when it comes
to details are showing that they ARE NOT COMPETITIVE in my class and in the
brutal outside-my-class world.
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