Do not use slang and clichés, and colloquial language (overused words).
Do not use contractions (don’t, can’t, they’ve etc.).
Do not use abbreviations.
Do not start analysis statements with “This shows.”
Use Well-developed Paragraph Requirements Over time you will develop a style of your own, but this template will serve you well at first. Ultimately, all well developed paragraphs have a topic sentence, a body of evidence (examples/ research), your analysis, and a conclusion. We follow an 8 sentence paragraph structure in Instructional Technology. This will serve you well for the time being to develop your research style writing for all classes.
Sentence #1: Topic Sentence: Introduce the main idea of the paragraph.
Sentence #2: Write a sentence with a specific example that supports the main idea.*
Sentence #3: Write a sentence that further explains and analyzes the example. Analyze means make a statement that relates how the fact helps prove your main idea.
Sentence #4: Write a sentence second example that supports the main idea.*
Sentence #5: Write a sentence that further explains and analyzes the 2nd example.
Sentence #6: Write a sentence about the third example that supports the main idea.*
Sentence #7: Write a sentence that further explains and analyzes the 3rd example.
Sentence #8: Write a concluding sentence that restates the main idea in new words and what the reader should have learned from your paragraph or a "call to action".
Use Basic MLA Format
Font: Black, Times New Roman, 12 Pt.
Line spacing: Double in & between paragraphs
Sentence Spacing: 1 Space after each period.
Margins: 1" Top, Bottom, Right, Left.
Header: Last Name and Page # Right justified, separated by a space.
Headings: Left Justified, one under another-
-Your Name -Teacher(s) Name(s), -Class Name and Period (in college give the course # instead of pd) -MLA Date: Day Month Year
Title: Centered (no underline, italics, or bold).
Paragraphs: set indent for 1/2".
MLA Rewriting Assignment: Follow Formal rules for writing and MLA format and rewrite your response to the question. Remember to use transitions and vary sentence beginnings within the paragraph. Revisit the initial benchmark page of sources and be sure to incorporate at least 1 video, 1 graph statistic, and 1 fact from the article in your response.
Rewrite Prompt: What are some common sense goals and solutions that students can live by to thrive in a technology-driven environment?
Use a Microsoft Word to word process it in MLA format using Microsft Word.
After typing the document, save it in your "H" drive. Also upload to Google Drive with the Conversion setting turned on.
Submit by "inviting" JR and giving an acceptable message for your the Google Drive Document. You will receive up to 10 points for a correctly formatted MLA document, up to 10 points for following the formal writing rules, and 5 points for following the email/ Google Drive Message rules.
Closure:
You just practiced MLA format for a research style document. Are you aware of the variety of research style formats that you might run into in HS or college? Our Homepage has links on the left to a resource page for the major styles for you to use.
Besides MLA, you might run in to APA, CBA, Chicago, or Turabian . . . each one has a different set of format rules. What do you think this means for you in terms of your word processing program, whether it be Word, Pages, Open Office Text Document, Google Drive or some other text type software? . . . not sure? See this hint!