Editor’s Guide

1. Editor’s Guide Please edit only the sections you’re being asked to edit!

2. Editing for Fluency • To edit for fluency, you must read out loud. • Begin when your teacher instructs you. • Add missing words p rts of words if needed, using a caret. (Example given.) • Delete duplicate words words, if you find them, using the delete mark. • Circle with “SP” any words which are not readable.

3. Editing for Organization • Did they remember to double-space? If not, make a note to remind them. • How do margins look? If they have written in the margin, please let them know. • Did they write on the back of the page? If so, tell them this is not acceptable. • Are they indenting paragraphs correctly (use your thumb to measure)? If not, use a paragraph symbol to show them what needs changed. • Does the text have the required title: Are You Proud of Your Country? (It needs the ? too!)

4. Editing for Word Choice • Do they ever use terms that might be disrespectful to our veterans? For example, do they say “vet” instead of writing out veteran or WWII instead of World War II? Correct these. • If they have used slang terms (cool, dude, wuzzup, text language, etc…), circle these and write “WC” over the circle. Example: ur 2 cool dude! • Do they ever use baby-sounding words when they might have used bigger words? Suggest these improvements by using delete and caret.

5. Edit for Conventions • Write SP over eny mispelled words or SP? over words which might be misspelled. • use capitalization marks for any words which Need capitalized. Use the lower-case mark for words which shouldn’t be capitalized. • Put in the correct punctuation using proofreading symbols wherever necessary • Iftheycramtheirwordstogether, use add a space mark to separate them.

6. Edit for Voice • How would an elderly veteran feel if they read this paper? Would anything written here hurt their feelings? Would they disqualify this essay because it gives the author’s name? Let the author know, if they’ve given out too much personal information or if they’ve written anything offensive. • Did the writer ever talk about school and/or assignments? Tell them to avoid talking about class and assignments when they’re trying to win a serious contest like this. It needs to sound like our veterans matter more to them than a grade.

7. Edit for Ideas • Did the writer answer the question “Are you proud of your country?” Tell them where they seem to drift off the assigned topic, so they know where to fix it. • Did they use the word “proud” in each paragraph? Did they say the word “country” in every paragraph? If not, tell them they need to focus more on the required subject of the essay.