Expectations/Requirements for Mystery Story

See the previous entry (from 1/28/14) for the homework assignments due on Tuesday, 2/4/14.

This entry is to clarify the expectations and requirements for your mystery story.

Graded items that need to all be in your manilla envelope so far (those checked):
-/  (1) 5  possible items in pocket
-/  (2) 3 possible situations
-/  (3)  plot line chart
-/  (4) graded Markup copy of first 2 vignettes
-/  (5) printed, graded Markup copy of G1 (first five pages), stapled to your signed/proofed G1 copy

    (6) signed/proofed copy of your G2 (See 2h in the directions given below.)

    (7) your blank copy of the grading rubric for the mystery story.

You should be adding pages to your story at a rate of at least two pages per day.  By next Tuesday, you must either be finished with your story or you must have at least 17 of the 25 possible pages done.  (This does NOT mean your story has to be 25 pages long!  Your finished story must be between 5 and 25 pages long.  Consult the grading rubric to see if you have done a good job with your story.)

Whenever you finish your story (5-25 pages long), do the following:

1] Send me a regular email letting me know your story is done, how many pages long it is, and that you are in the proofing stage.

2] The proofing stage should consist of this:

    a) Make any and all changes suggested on your Markup G1.

    b) Look over your story on the computer, making sure all the line spacing, margins, vignette separators (* * * or similar), extra lines, header errors, or footer (page number) errors are correct and that you have used the correct parameters for compositions.  [See NOTE, below.]

    c) Read over your story on the computer, proofing for any and all mistakes that you can see.  Be sure your dialogue is punctuated correctly!  Look for and correct any errors, including run-on sentences, sentence fragments, spelling errors, typographical errors, etc.  Make it as perfect as you know how!  Save this corrected copy of your story, labeling it as your G2.  (Do this in both the name of the document as you save it and in the document itself, in the header.)

    d) Print a draft copy of your G2.  (This uses less ink.) 

    e) Hand this draft copy (G2) to your adult proofreader, along with your Markup G1 and the grading rubric sheet I will use to grade your story.  (This is so they can see how I will grade it; they should NOT use it to "grade" your paper!)  Have them proof the G2 both for content and for mechanics. (See below for explanation.)  Have your proofreader mark any errors he or she finds directly on your G2 draft copy, and then sign it on the first and last pages of your story. 

Content = Did you follow the directions for the assignment well, as indicated on the grading rubric?  

Mechanics = Are there any grammatical or spelling errors of any kind?

    f) Look over all the errors your proofreader found on your G2, along with any suggested corrections he or she made.  Make sure you understand and agree.  Talk to your proofreader if you're confused or in disagreement.

    g) Make the corrections needed on your computer copy of your G2.  When it is as perfect as you know how to make it, label and save it as the D1 and email it as an attachment to my regular email.  Keep the signed, proofed G2 in your envelope.

     h) I will print a draft copy of your D1 at my home and begin grading it.  The next class period that I see you after you email me your D1, please hand me your envelope, full of all seven items listed above, for me to use while I grade your story.

NOTE - Your paper must follow all understood parameters for our compositions:

-- 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roma)

-- double-spaced

-- standard 1-in. margins

-- 5-space paragraph indentations

-- single-spaced header with name, date, and assignment name, on far left or right top of each page

-- footer that automatically places the correct page number on the bottom of each page

-- ONE visual divider line of some sort (* * * or some similar) between your different vignettes

-- no EXTRA lines (not between paragraphs, associated with vignette changes, or just randomly)

Please, please, please call, text, or email me if you have any questions or concerns about any of these expectations or requirements!

IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CRAZY LINES IN YOUR PAPER, try the instructions given here. Basically, you will select all (hit cntrl A) so it all turns blue, then go to the paragraph box at the top of your Word program, select the border box (which looks like a box with four squares), then choose no border.  It should take the lines away.