Personal Narrative Checklist

MLA Rules

 Double Space- Skip lines o Don’t push enter at the end of each line, this makes revising and editing very difficult. Simply let the paper text wrap. o Highlight all of your paper. Under the “HOME” tab and “paragraph” section, change the line spacing to 2.

 On the first page only, include your heading o on the left hand side of the page  First and last name  Teacher’s Name  Class Name – Period Number  Due Date

 Every page must have a header which contains your last name followed by the page number at the top right-hand side of the page. Click on the “Insert” tab. Under the “Header & Footer” section, click on “page number.” Click on “Top of page” option and select “plain number 3” listed.

 If handwritten, o Do not write on the back of the paper o It must be legible. If I can’t read it, I can’t grade it. It will be graded as read, so if you write in all caps, then you will receive points off because of capitalization errors. o Black ink only

 Must have 1 inch margins all the way around o Go to “Page Layout” tab. Under “Page Setup,” click “Margins” and select “normal.”

 Only 12 point Times New Roman font is allowed  Indent the beginning of a new paragraph

 Don’t put extra lines in between paragraphs

 Don’t bold, italicize or underline anything!!! o The only exceptions are titles of books, plays, movies, or poems discussed in your paper

 Don’t use parenthesis, unless citing in a research paper

 Give a creative title- o Can’t be bolded, underlined, change font type, color, or put in a larger font. o Centered

 Do not include slang (ex. “cause”, “gonna”, “hangin out” ), except if it appears in the dialogue and enhances the story

 Don’t use contractions (didn’t = did not, I’m = I am, They’re = They are, We’ve = We have)

 Do not abbreviate words (ex. bc, etc.) or symbols ($, %, &, #, @) – you are not texting!!!!

 Numbers one through nine must be spelled out, you may use numbers for 10 and beyond. If a number starts a sentence, the number must be spelled out, no matter the amount of the number.

 Check for correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization (the first word of a sentence, “I”, proper nouns, etc) o Be cautious of spell check because it will not pick up homophone errors, like their, there, and they’re or too, to, and two

 If you include dialogue, o Every time a different person speaks, it should be in a new paragraph.

 Avoid Clichés

 Avoid “very” – synonyms: awfully, dreadfully, exceedingly, exceptionally, extremely, greatly, etc.

 Avoid “a lot” – synonyms: many, several, multiple, bountiful, plentiful, numerous, etc.

 Keep everything to turn in with your final draft. Final draft order, the most recent on top, bottom ->top: o Brainstorming & Pre-Writing o 1st Rough Draft o Any other Rough Drafts you may have . You are encouraged to have other rough drafts since writing is a never ending process and your parents or siblings may recognize errors that your peers may not o Final Draft Works Cited Page

 Setting up the page o Title the page Works Cited o Center your title. o Continue with the header as in paper, if your paper ended on page 5, then your Works Cited page is page 6. o Continue with the same set up as the rest of the paper, so double space between all lines on the Work Cited page.

 Setting up the entries o Begin each entry with the left margin. o Indent each additional line five spaces. o Single Spacebar after each period in a Works Cited page (usually double spacebar after each period in a paper. o List entries in alphabetical order. o Don’t number your entries.