Style
Words and language to be avoided

	--No slang or informal language (077, 298)

	--No cliches (073, 287)

	--No overly-repeated words or redundancies (067)

	--No vague words, especially "this," "it," or "that" (064), unless they are followed by a noun or adjective

	--No sexist language (933-945)

	--No sentences begin with "so," "but," "and," or "however"

	--No use of the word "quote" or "quotation"--use "phrase," "word," "sentence," or "passage"

	--No use of "etc."

	--No contractions (668)

Pronouns
	--The antecedent of every pronoun is clear (064, 850, 930-932)

	--No personal pronouns (861)--if you must, use "the reader" or "an individual"

	--Singular antecedents have singular pronouns and plural antecedents have plural pronouns (854)

Sentences
	--The subjects and verbs in your sentences agree in both person and number (870, 921-929)

	--No fragments (058)

	--No run-ons (060)

	--No comma-splices (059)

	--No dangling modifiers (66)

	--Sentences are not short and choppy, or in primer style (053, 074)

	--Sentences are not too long or convoluted (see 061)

	--Sentences are kept, as much as possible, in present tense

Each paragraph is of adequate length, and is not too short (under four sentences) or too long


Punctuation and Mechanics
No misspelled words (see 714)

Your title 
	--The title is capitalized correctly (694)

	--The title page contains appropriate information (for an example, see169)

	--If no title page ... (149.16)

Every word is correctly capitalized (685-697)

Parentheses are avoided as much as possible

Possession is correctly indicated (670, 671)

All lists have commas correctly placed (606)

Parentheticals or explanatory phrases are enclosed in commas (607, 611)


Evidence and Quotations
Every major and minor point is proven with a quotation or given a citation

All quotations are 
	1.  Introduced

	2.  Presented correctly

	3.  Explained

No quotation stands by itself--all quotations are connected to one of your sentences by a colon, a comma, or, in special cases, the quotation is 	worked into your sentence (153.2, 630)

Correct punctuation is used with quotations
	--Quoted titles are either underlined (658, 660), or they are placed inside quotation marks (654)

	--Brackets are used if words inside a quotation are changed (153.7, 664)

If a quotation is worked into your text
	--use quotation marks around the quotation (153.4)

	--Use a slash or line break (/) between lines of verse (153.4, 680)

Correct format is followed for box or block quotations
	--Box or block quotations are used if the quoted material extends over three typed lines (153.1, 153.3)

	--If a box or block quotation is used for poetry (153.3)
		  The quotation looks exactly like the poem being quoted

		  The quotation is single-spaced

		  There are no quotation marks around the quotation

	--If a box or block quotation is used for prose (153.3)
		  The quotation does not have to look exactly like the prose being quoted

		  The quotation is single-spaced (651)

		  There are no quotation marks around the quotation (651)

	--Do not indent the paragraph following a box or block quotation

Citations
	--Every quotation is followed by a correct citation

	--The citation is in correct form and is enclosed in parentheses (154)

	--The period is after the citation, not before it

A quotation is never used to begin or to end a paragraph


Overall:  Final Things
Do all of your sentences make sense? (899, 900)

Do all of your sentences follow logically? (099)

Does each sentence have a clearly defined purpose in your paper? (092)

Does each paragraph have a topic sentence? (091)

Are all of your points proven?

Are all of your points explained?

Is most of your paper analysis and not summary or paraphrase?

Finally, are your name and the date on the paper?