2. Topic Sentence
Circle the topic sentence.
Is it an opinion?
Does it need to be proven?
Is it what the paragraph is about?

3. Concrete Details
Highlight the concrete details.
Is it an absolute fact?
If it is a quote, is it cited
correctly?
Does it seem to support the topic
sentence?

4. Commentary 1
Underline the first piece of
commentary once in each chunk.
Is it an opinion?
Does it address the concrete detail in
the context of the novel?

5. Commentary 2
Underline the second piece of
commentary twice in each chunk.
Is it an opinion?
Does it address the concrete detail in
the context of the topic sentence?

6. Concluding Statement
Circle the concluding statement.
Is it an opinion?
Is it redundant?
Does it tie up loose ends or fill in the
gaps well?
If there is no concluding statement,
does the paragraph need one?

7. Format
• Is it only ONE paragraph?
• Does the paragraph have two chunks?
• Looking at the handout:
• Is the heading on the left side?
• Does the heading include their name, subject, period,
and due date?
• Does it have the title?
• Is it double-spaced?
• Is it typed?
• Is the font correct?

8. Format (cont.)
• Is the paragraph in the following order?
– TS
– CD
– CM
– CM
– CD
– CM
– CM
– CS

9. Grammar
Check for all grammar:
Capitalization
Spelling
Punctuation
Run-ons & fragments
And so on….