Name _______________________________________________________

Composition

Proofreading a Friendly Letter

1. Check your heading. Is it written on the second line on the right side of the paper?

2. Does the first line of your heading have your address? Did you capitalize the whole name of your street and not just the first word?

3. Does the second line of your heading have the town, state, and zip code? Did you capitalize everything, including both words of the state? Did you put a comma between the town and the state? Did you fit the whole zip code on the second line?

4. Does the third line of your heading have the date? Did you capitalize the month? Did you put a comma between the day and the year?

5. Look at the heading. Is it written so each line starts directly under the one above it in a nice straight column?

6. Is your greeting written on the very next line, but over near the left margin?

7. Did you capitalize the greeting and the person’s complete name?

8. Did you put a comma at the end of the greeting?

9. Did you begin the body of your letter on the next line?

10. Did you indent the body of your letter one inch?

11. Did you check for spelling errors?

12. Did you check all capitals and punctuation marks?

13. Did you write in complete sentences?

14. Did you reread your letter and make sure you didn’t forget anything?

15. Did you stick to the topic?

16. Did your first sentence get the reader’s attention? Did it state the main idea or purpose for writing?

17. Did you repeat?

18. Do you have supporting details?

19. Did you start your sentences different ways?

20. Is your letter interesting?

21. Did you use different types of sentences?

22. Did you use exact verbs and good descriptive words for every noun and verb?

23. Did you make yourself clear?

24. Did you explain your ideas?

25. Did you have a good ending sentence to tie things together?

26. Did you write your closing on the next line?

27. Did you write your closing directly under your heading in a nice straight column?

28. Did you put a comma after the closing?

29. Did you make sure you only capitalized the first word in the closing?

30. Did you put your signature directly under the first word in the closing?

31. Did you capitalize your signature?