Name ______________________________________________

Proofreading Guidelines for Compositions

1. Check your title. Did you write in on the second line or in the first space? Did you capitalize all the important words? Make sure you did not underline it or put quotations around it.

2. Is your title too long? Does it get the reader’s attention, or is it boring? Is it related to what your composition is about?

3. Did you skip a space after the title?

4. Did you indent one inch at the beginning of your paragraph?

5. Did you check all your punctuation?

6. Did you check to see if you used capitals where needed and only where they were needed?

7. Did you check for spelling mistakes?

8. Did you repeat ideas or start sentences the same way? Change it! Use synonyms.

9. Did you continually use good descriptive words for every noun and verb?

10. Did you use exact verbs?

11. Did you use any similes or metaphors?

12. Did you use direct quotations? If so were they punctuated correctly?

13. Did you use conversation in your composition? Were you told not to? If so, get rid of it.

14. Check for run on sentences. You may have no more than two complete thoughts in a sentence.

15. Do all your sentences have subjects and predicates? Are they complete thoughts?

16. Did you use different types of sentences?

17. Reread your composition. Did you leave any words out?

18. Reread your composition. Are your sentences in the correct sequence?

19. Reread your composition. Are there any sentences that don’t belong there? Did you stick to the topic?

20. Does your composition have a catchy beginning sentence? Does it state the main idea of your paragraph?

21. Are your middle sentences good supporting details?

22. Do you have a good ending? Does it tie it all together? Make sure you didn’t end with a supporting detail.

23. Do you have the right number of sentences? If it’s too long, can you combine them to make better or more interesting sentences? Do you need to add more details?

24. Did you explain your ideas well or just mention them?

25. Did you skip a space when you were done with your paragraph

26. Did you write your first and last name on the next line? Was it on the right side of the paper?

27. Did you put your grade directly under your name? Did you capitalize the word grade?

28. Did you put the date directly under your grade? Did you spell and punctuate it correctly?

29. Did you do all the required steps? Prewriting? Rough Draft? Corrections? Good copy?

30. Did you write what you were assigned to write about? Is this the type of composition you were told to do? Did you complete the assignment, or did you do your own thing?

31. Look at your paper. Is it torn or ragged? Did you use the right paper? If you are in pen, do you have more than one parenthesis? Did you cross out or scribble anything out. If you erased, is it nice and clean looking? Is this your best penmanship? Is this your best work? Is it neat? Will your teacher agree? If you answered no to any of these questions, do it over again.