ATTICUS CHARACTER ANALYSIS

 

UNITY, FOCUS, AND ORGANIZATION

 

____Underline thesis and topic sentences

 

____No thesis statement in introductory paragraph.

 

____Thesis statement not focused on Atticus’s character traits.

 

____No plot summary in introductory paragraph to establish context. 

 

____Topic sentence focus not on Atticus’s character traits.

 

____Independent clauses not focused on Atticus’s character traits or on topic sentence.  Do not focus on Atticus’s actions or on other characters.

 

____Do not summarize plot in independent clauses.

 

____Use subordination to ensure that independent-clause focus is on  Atticus’s traits and that plot details, quotations, etc. appear in dependent elements.  Avoid summary in independent clauses.

 

____Faulty organization.  Ensure that each paragraph covers different ground.  Ensure that matters discussed in the same paragraph logically belong together.

 

DEVELOPMENT

 

____Not enough specific evidence.  Use examples, details, and direct quotations as specific evidence with which to develop your topic sentences.

 

____Not enough analysis and explanation.  Explain clearly how  the evidence reveals that Atticus has a certain character trait.  Make reader see what you mean.  Interpret for the reader.

 

____ Identify characters, situations, contexts,  etc.  with which the reader may be unfamiliar.  Don’t assume he’s read the work or already understands the point you are trying to make. Don’t expect reader to read your mind.

 

STYLE AND MECHANICS

 

____Choppy or stringy sentences.  Combine related sentences by subordination.

 

____Vary beginnings of sentences.

 

____Vary sentence patterns. Vary phrasing of same or similar ideas.

 

____Establish transitions between paragraphs and between sentences

 

____Wordiness.  Make statements more concise.  Eliminate unnecessary words by choosing diction more carefully and by combining related sentences.  Avoid passive voice; use strong, active verbs.

 

____Tense.  Write about literature in present tenses.  Do not shift tenses unnecessarily.

 

____Mishandled direct quotations.  Make each quotation part of one of your sentences.  Introduce each quotation, clearly identifying speaker, context, and any unclear references within the quotation.  Put page number (for prose) or line number (for poetry) in parenthesis after quotation.  Put period at end of sentence.

 

PROOFREAD.                                          ­____Error of fact                                                     Wrong Punctuation

 

____Fragment                                         ____Miscopied quotation                                 ____Quotation within quotation                

 

____Run-on sentence                 ____Diction error or misused term                         ____Coordinating conjunction           

                                                                               

____Misspelling                                       ____Lack of parallelism                                             ____Introductory element

 

____Garbled or wrong syntax                     ____Wrong or misplaced modifier                   ____Restrictive/non-restrictive element

 

____S-V disagreement                                          ____Omitted or misused apostrophe                            ____Concluding adverb clause

 

____Wrong case                                    ____Omitted or redundant words                     ____Title

 

____Wrong principal part                           ____Unclear or illogical pronoun reference                ____Other

 

                                                                ____Capitalization

 

                                                                ____Follow MLA Format