The writing resource packet

USE 3
RD
 PERSON ONLY!!
10. Using the Correct Person: Two choices—either 1
st
person, or 3
rd
person and it depends on 
the topic. If it is about you personally, then you use I, me, my, mine, myself (1
st
person). If it 
is an issue in society or applies to more than just you, you use 3
rd
person (kids, teens, people, 
he, him, her, she, them, they, etc.). See page 61 for correct person usage. 
a. See example of student writing on the overhead and take notes: 
11. Focus: You must always keep the main topic of your paper in each of the body paragraphs, in 
your topic sentences, example sentences, and concluding sentences. In other words, if your 
topic is “Why kids drop out?” then you must explain/prove/answer “Why kids drop out” in 
your body paragraphs, and you should always refer back to the topic in your (Pt.), examples, 
and (CS). If your topic is the “1 thing that is important to you,” then you should have “it’s 
important to me” in your TS & CS sentences and some connection to the topic in your 
examples. Just remember to use NEW WORDS! 
a. See the example of student writing on the overhead and take notes: 
 
12. Peer-Editing: explain why and what exactly is good and what needs work. PQPing: the last P 
for Polish must address the areas that need the most attention to improve the writing. 
Use different words 
that have the same 
meaning 

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Scott Victor 
Page 41 
last updated: 9/4/2013 
Common Mistakes in Responding To Literature 
1. Your title must be creative: “Moving—Everyone’s Favorite Activity” “Dreams Locked 
Away in Neatly Packed Boxes” “Just When All Looked Well . . .” 
2. The Author, Title, and Brief Summary of the story MUST go into the GDT 
3. Your thesis must include part of the question and the 3 main points that will break down the 
question!!! Use the “Thesis Formula” on page _____. All parts of the Intro must connect! 
4. If your TS is general (meaning it does not state the 2 main points you will discuss in the 
paragraph), your CS must be specific (state the 2 points you discussed in the paragraph!) 
5. The question or main topic must appear in both the TS and the CS (If it’s about setting, 
character‘s qualities, etc., then that topic must appear in both the TS and CS.
6. You must focus on and explain/prove the main topic—whether it’s setting, character’s 
quality, or point of view, you must support your interpretation/your analysis of these. 
7. Quotes are not what Mr. Victor said or only what the characters say; they are details in 
the story that you take “word for word” from the story itself to support what you are trying to 
say in your essay. If a character says it and it’s in quotes already, you must use triple