Key+Qualities+and+Think+Abouts

=Ideas=


 * Finding a Topic**
 * 1) Have I chosen a topic that I really like?
 * 2) Do I have something new to say about this topic?
 * 3) Am I writing about what I know and care about?
 * 4) Have I gathered enough information about it so that I’m ready to write?


 * Focusing the Topic**
 * 1) Have I zeroed in on one small part of a bigger idea?
 * 2) Can I sum up my idea in a simple sentence?
 * 3) Have I chosen the information that captures my idea best?
 * 4) Have I thought deeply about what the reader will need to know?


 * Developing the Topic**
 * 1) Am I sure my information is right?
 * 2) Are my details chock-full of interesting information?
 * 3) Have I used details that show new thinking about this idea?
 * 4) Will my reader believe what I say about this topic?


 * Using Details**
 * 1) Did I create a picture in the reader’s mind?
 * 2) Did I use details that draw upon the five senses? (sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing)
 * 3) Do my details stay on the main topic?
 * 4) Did I stretch for details beyond the obvious?

=Organization=


 * Creating the Lead**
 * 1) Did I give the reader something interesting to think about right from the start?
 * 2) Will the reader want to keep reading?
 * 3) Have I tried to get the reader’s attention?
 * 4) Did I let the reader know what is coming?


 * Using Sequence Words and Transition Words**
 * 1) Have I used sequence words such as //**later**, **then**,// and **//meanwhile//**?
 * 2) Did I use a variety of transition words such as //**however**, **because**, **also**,// and **//for instance//**?
 * 3) Have I shown how the ideas connect from sentence to sentence?
 * 4) Does my organization make sense from paragraph to paragraph?


 * Structuring the Body**
 * 1) Have I shown the reader where to slow down and where to speed up?
 * 2) Do all the details fit where they are placed?
 * 3) Will the reader find it easy to follow my ideas?
 * 4) Does the organization help the main idea stand out?


 * Ending With a Sense of Resolution**
 * 1) Have I wrapped up all the loose ends?
 * 2) Have I ended at the best place?
 * 3) Do I have an ending that makes my writing feel finished?
 * 4) Did I leave the reader with something to think about?

=Voice=


 * Establishing a Tone**
 * 1) Can I name the primary tone of my writing? (For example: happy, frustrated, knowledgeable, scared, convincing)
 * 2) Have I varied the tone from the beginning to the end?
 * 3) Have I been expressive?
 * 4) Did I show that I care about this topic?


 * Conveying the Purpose**
 * 1) Is the purpose of the writing clear?
 * 2) Does my point of view come through?
 * 3) Is this the right tone for this kind of writing?
 * 4) Have I used strong voice throughout this piece?


 * Creating a Connection to the Audience**
 * 1) Have I though about the reader?
 * 2) Is this the right voice for the audience?
 * 3) Have I shown what matters most to me in this piece?
 * 4) Will the reader know how I think and feel about this topic?


 * Taking Risks to Create Voice**
 * 1) Have I used words that are not ordinary?
 * 2) Is my writing interesting, fresh, and original?
 * 3) Have I tried to make my writing sound like me?
 * 4) Have I tried something different from what I’ve done before?

=Word Choice=


 * Applying Strong Verbs**
 * 1) Have I used action verbs?
 * 2) Did I stretch to get a better word—**//scurry//** rather than **//run//**?
 * 3) Do my verbs give my writing punch and pizzazz?
 * 4) Did I avoid //**is**, **am**, **are**, **was**, **were**, **be**, **being**,// and **//been//** whenever I could?


 * Selecting Striking Words and Phrases**
 * 1) Did I try to use words that sound //just right//?
 * 2) Did I try hyphenating several shorter words to make an interesting-sounding new word?
 * 3) Did I try putting words with the same sound together? (alliteration, assonance)
 * 4) Did I read my piece aloud to find at least one or two moments I love?


 * Using Specific and Accurate Words**
 * 1) Have I used nouns and modifiers that help the reader see a picture?
 * 2) Did I avoid using words that might confuse the reader?
 * 3) Did I try a new word, and if so, did I check to make sure I used it correctly?
 * 4) Are these the best words that can be used?


 * Choosing Words That Deepen Meaning**
 * 1) Did I choose words that show I really thought about them?
 * 2) Have I tried to use words without repeating myself?
 * 3) Do my words capture the reader’s imagination?
 * 4) Have I found the best way to express myself?

=Sentence Fluency=


 * Crafting Well-Built Sentences**
 * 1) Do my sentences begin in different ways?
 * 2) Are my sentences of different lengths?
 * 3) Are my sentences grammatically correct unless constructed creatively for impact?
 * 4) Have I used conjunctions such as //**but**, **and**,// and **//so//** to connect parts of sentences?


 * Varying Sentence Length**
 * 1) Do I include different kinds of sentences?
 * 2) Are some of my sentences complex?
 * 3) Are some of my sentences simple?
 * 4) Did I intermingle sentence types, one to the next?


 * Capturing Smooth and Rhythmic Flow**
 * 1) Is reading the entire piece aloud easy?
 * 2) Do my sentences flow, one to the next?
 * 3) Do individual passages sound smooth when I read them aloud?
 * 4) Did I thoughtfully place different sentence types to enhance the main idea?


 * Breaking the “Rules” to Create Fluency**
 * 1) Did I use fragments with style and purpose?
 * 2) Do I begin a sentence informally to create a conversational tone?
 * 3) Does my dialogue sound authentic?
 * 4) Did I try weaving in exclamations and single words to add emphasis?

=Conventions=


 * Checking Spelling**
 * 1) Have I used standard English spelling unless I chose not to for a good reason?
 * 2) Have I checked words with **//ie//** and **//ei//**?
 * 3) When adding suffixes to words, have **"//i"//** changed the **"//y"//** to **"i"**, doubled the final consonant, or dropped the silent **"//e"//** when necessary?
 * 4) Have I checked my work for words I have trouble spelling?


 * Punctuating Effectively and Paragraphing Accurately**
 * 1) Did I place quotation marks around dialogue and direct quotes?
 * 2) Did I punctuate complex sentences correctly?
 * 3) Did I use apostrophes to show possessives and contractions?
 * 4) Did I begin new paragraphs in the appropriate places?


 * Capitalizing Correctly**
 * 1) Did I capitalize proper nouns for people, places, and things?
 * 2) Did I capitalize dialogue correctly?
 * 3) Did I capitalize abbreviations, acronyms, and people’s titles correctly?
 * 4) Did I capitalize the title and/or other headings?


 * Applying Grammar and Usage**
 * 1) Did I use special words such as homophones, synonyms, and antonyms correctly?
 * 2) Did I check my sentences for subject-verb agreement?
 * 3) Did I use verb tense (past, present, future) consistently throughout my piece?
 * 4) Did I make sure pronouns and their antecedents (the words they stand for) agree?

=Presentation=


 * Applying Handwriting Skills**
 * 1) Is my handwriting neat and legible?
 * 2) Did I take time to form each letter clearly?
 * 3) Do my letters slant in the same direction throughout?
 * 4) Does my spacing between words enhance readability?


 * Using Word Processing Effectively**
 * 1) Is my choice of font and style easy to read and appropriate for the audience?
 * 2) Is the font size appropriate?
 * 3) Did I use formatting such as boldfacing, underlining, and italicizing effectively?
 * 4) Does color enhance the look and feel of my piece—or does it weaken them?


 * Making Good Use of White Space**
 * 1) Do my margins frame the text evenly on all four sides?
 * 2) Did I leave enough white space between letters, words, and lines to make the piece easy to read?
 * 3) Did I avoid cross-outs, smudges, tears, and wrinkles?
 * 4) Did I create a nice balance of text, text features, illustrations, photographs, and white space?


 * Refining Text Features**
 * 1) Do my illustrations and photographs help make the piece easy to understand?
 * 2) Did I include my name, date, title, page numbers, headers, and footers?
 * 3) Are text features such as bulleted lists, sidebars, and timelines clear, well positioned, and effective in guiding the reader and enhancing meaning?
 * 4) Are charts, graphs, and tables east to read and understand?