Use this checklist to evaluate your writing. This checklist is organized according to the five traits, domains, or characteristics of good writing. Click on MY Tutor ® for in-depth analysis, revision tips, examples and strategies to improve your writing prior to submission.
FOCUS & MEANING:
I have read the writing topic and identified my audience and purpose.
My writing focuses on a specific experience or event.
I stay focused on the topic or task throughout my writing.
CONTENT & DEVELOPMENT:
My writing contains an engaging setting by adding specific (who, what, where, when) and descriptive details (sensory details for the reader to picture the story)
My writing includes a detailed plot: introduction, rising action, climax (crisis), falling action and resolution.
I created realistic characters by adding dialogue to show the characters’ thoughts and to add suspense.
ORGANIZATION:
My story has an exciting beginning. I set the mood by describing how the setting, looks, feels, sounds or smells.
I present the events of my story in a logical order, building effectively to the climax.
I added transitions to show how events are connected. I have used an inviting introduction and a strong conclusion.
My story has a creative ending. I added details such as how the problem was solved, characters’ feelings and what happened next.
LANGUAGE USE & STYLE:
I varied the lengths of my sentences so that I have both long and short sentences.
I have added details to describe how the nouns (people, places, and things) look, sound, feel, smell or act.
I replaced weak verbs (for example: is, got, went) with strong verbs (for example: exist, received, darted).
I added specific sensory details to help my reader experience what the character(s) in ny story experience.
My characters’ dialogue sounds realistic to their specifications.
GRAMMAR & CONVENTIONS:
I have read my story out loud (quietly to myself or a peer) so that I can hear my mistakes and correct them.
I will try to make my reader SMILE by checking:
Sentences : Each sentence has a subject and verb.
Punctuation Marks : Each sentence ends with a punctuation mark .
Indents : Each new paragraph is indented .
Letters : Each sentence starts with a capital letter .
Editor : I have used MY Editor as a final check for possible errors in mechanics, style, punctuation and spelling.