A CHECKLIST FOR PREPARING YOUR PAPER

Topic
       
Is your topic too broad?
        Is your topic too narrow?
       
Has your topic been approved by your teacher?

Introduction
  
     In the first paragraph of your paper, you will state the argument you are going to prove about your topic, or the point you are going to make about your topic, or the question you have asked about your topic.

Note Cards
  
     Are you writing key words and phrases?
  
     Is the information on each card related to one topic?
        Is the information on each card from one source?
  
     Are your cards labeled (slug)?

Sources
  
     Have you included information from the number of required sources?
  
     Have you used different kinds of sources?

  
                     special reference books                     books
  
                     subject encyclopedias                        interviews
  
                     special reference books                     television programs
  
                     periodicals                                            newspapers
                        databases                                            World Wide Web (Be sure to evaluate site!)

Organization
  
     Have you put your note cards into groups?
  
     Have you arranged your note cards within each group?

Rough Draft
Did you write from your cards?
Did you include the paragraph for your introduction?
Does the paper make sense when you read it?
Have you checked spelling, grammar, paragraph placement, capitalization, and punctuation?

Bibliography page or Works Cited Page
How to prepare your bibliography page or works cited page?
   

Final Draft
Does it include all the requirements given by your teacher?
Does it follow the proper format of presenting a paper?
Does it include the Bibliography page or Works Cited page (the last page)?  Is it in the correct format?

Format of paper
  
     Is the font Times New Roman 12pt.?
        Did you include the proper heading?
  
     Did you print (write) on one side of the paper?
  
     Are the margins 1” at the top, bottom, and sides?
  
     Did you indent the first word of each paragraph?
  
     Did you double-space the entire paper?

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