INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST / SURVIVAL CHECKLIST
I don't generally grade practices for writing or ideas. They provide an avenue for gauging comprehension, giving feedback, and discerning next steps. Practices help you interact with reading and prepare for discussions. Through this work, I also hope to instill the habit of following directions. Most importantly, low-risk practices help you build skills to do well on high-point essays and projects.
INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST
1. Cut and paste the instructions onto the first page of your paper before beginning the assignment.
2. Number the instructions.
3. Start the assignment on page 2.
4. Review instructions regularly. Doing work correctly the first time saves time.
5. Upon finishing the assignment, check the first item on the CHECKLIST. If you did it, cross it out but do not delete. If not, do so before going to the next item. When you finish, cross out that item and go to the next.
6. Work your way through each item, focusing on only one thing at a time.
7. After you finish, check everything again.
8. Delete the instructions.
9. Pull your work up to the top of page one.
10. Submit.
EXAMPLE
INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST
Here are instructions for an assignment in AP Lit:
Notes 10 -- Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42
Create a heading. Use 1 1/2 line spacing. Provide the title as above.
Take general notes and pull three quotes. Bold quotes and provide their location in the text.
Then analyze how any one of the following stories would be impacted/changed if written from a different perspective: "Paul's Case," "The Most Dangerous Game," "How I Met My Husband," "Everyday Use" or "Hills Like White Elephants."
This paper should be 1 1/2 pages minimum.
Due for periods 3 and 4 on Thurs, Nov 19 by 7am
Here is how these instructions could appear on an INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST:
Notice that I added the title and a reminder about italics in 3 and bolded numbers in 5 and 7.
Notes 10 -- Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42
Paying attention to details, formats, structures and all directions will help you learn and get better grades. In some college classes, instructions might include 20+ items. Professors will not look kindly to any deviation from them. The same goes for the work force, internships, and high school. Students in my classes, who have not taken to heart the learning and practices I provide, could struggle unnecessarily on graded essays and projects.
________________________________________________________________________
Unfortunately, students also often repeat mistakes. Believe it or not, this annoys instructors. In all things, create user-friendly documents. Less than such shows a lack of concern, interest, and maturity. This will not help you get good grades, letters of rec, internships, or employment. To avoid this disaster, create a SURVIVAL CHECKLIST of YOUR recurring missteps.
SURVIVAL CHECKLIST
1. As soon as your instructor identifies a misstep, begin creating your SURVIVAL CHECKLIST.
2. When you are told about or discover another misstep, add it to the list.
3. Save this document.
4. When you write an essay/paper, include your SURVIVAL CHECKLIST with your INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST.
5. When you have positively learned an item on the SURVIVAL CHECKLIST, delete it.
The INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST will change regularly.
The SURVIVAL CHECKLIST will initially grow but get shorter as your skills improve.
EXAMPLE
SURVIVAL CHECK LIST
When you put them together, they look like this:
Notes 10 -- Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42
INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST
1. Cut and paste the instructions onto the first page of your paper before beginning the assignment.
2. Number the instructions.
3. Start the assignment on page 2.
4. Review instructions regularly. Doing work correctly the first time saves time.
5. Upon finishing the assignment, check the first item on the CHECKLIST. If you did it, cross it out but do not delete. If not, do so before going to the next item. When you finish, cross out that item and go to the next.
6. Work your way through each item, focusing on only one thing at a time.
7. After you finish, check everything again.
8. Delete the instructions.
9. Pull your work up to the top of page one.
10. Submit.
EXAMPLE
INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST
Here are instructions for an assignment in AP Lit:
Notes 10 -- Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42
Create a heading. Use 1 1/2 line spacing. Provide the title as above.
Take general notes and pull three quotes. Bold quotes and provide their location in the text.
Then analyze how any one of the following stories would be impacted/changed if written from a different perspective: "Paul's Case," "The Most Dangerous Game," "How I Met My Husband," "Everyday Use" or "Hills Like White Elephants."
This paper should be 1 1/2 pages minimum.
Due for periods 3 and 4 on Thurs, Nov 19 by 7am
Here is how these instructions could appear on an INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST:
Notice that I added the title and a reminder about italics in 3 and bolded numbers in 5 and 7.
Notes 10 -- Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42
- Create a heading.
- Use 1 1/2 line spacing.
- Provide the title as above: Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42 (italicize book title)
- Take general notes
- Pull three quotes.
- Bold quotes and provide their location in the text.
- Then analyze how any one of the following stories would be impacted/changed if written from a different perspective: "Paul's Case," "The Most Dangerous Game," "How I Met My Husband," "Everyday Use" or "Hills Like White Elephants."
- This paper should be 1 1/2 pages minimum.
- Due for periods 3 and 4 on Thurs, Nov 19 by 7am
Paying attention to details, formats, structures and all directions will help you learn and get better grades. In some college classes, instructions might include 20+ items. Professors will not look kindly to any deviation from them. The same goes for the work force, internships, and high school. Students in my classes, who have not taken to heart the learning and practices I provide, could struggle unnecessarily on graded essays and projects.
________________________________________________________________________
Unfortunately, students also often repeat mistakes. Believe it or not, this annoys instructors. In all things, create user-friendly documents. Less than such shows a lack of concern, interest, and maturity. This will not help you get good grades, letters of rec, internships, or employment. To avoid this disaster, create a SURVIVAL CHECKLIST of YOUR recurring missteps.
SURVIVAL CHECKLIST
1. As soon as your instructor identifies a misstep, begin creating your SURVIVAL CHECKLIST.
2. When you are told about or discover another misstep, add it to the list.
3. Save this document.
4. When you write an essay/paper, include your SURVIVAL CHECKLIST with your INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST.
5. When you have positively learned an item on the SURVIVAL CHECKLIST, delete it.
The INSTRUCTIONS CHECKLIST will change regularly.
The SURVIVAL CHECKLIST will initially grow but get shorter as your skills improve.
EXAMPLE
SURVIVAL CHECK LIST
- Heading = student's name, teacher's name, class name, date [11 November 2020]
- Header = same font as essay (New Times Roman, 12). Space after name: Smith 1
- No additional line spacing after heading/title or between paragraphs
- Name speaker/thinker before dialogue quotes.
- Parenthesis = "She will go" (117; par. 19).
When you put them together, they look like this:
Notes 10 -- Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42
- Create a heading.
- Use 1 1/2 line spacing.
- Provide the title as above: Perrine's "Point of View" pp. 236-42 (italicize book titles)
- Take general notes
- Pull three quotes.
- Bold quotes and provide their location in the text.
- Then analyze how any one of the following stories would be impacted/changed if written from a different perspective: "Paul's Case," "The Most Dangerous Game," "How I Met My Husband," "Everyday Use" or "Hills Like White Elephants."
- This paper should be 1 1/2 pages minimum.
- Due for periods 3 and 4 on Thurs, Nov 19 by 7am
- Heading = student's name, teacher's name, class name, date [11 November 2020]
- Header = same font as essay (New Times Roman, 12). Space after name: Smith 1
- No additional line spacing after heading/title or between paragraphs
- Name speaker/thinker before dialogue quotes.
- Parenthesis = "She will go" (117; par. 19).
No instructor wants to wade through problems to discern your competence.
Create and carefully use INSTRUCTIONS and SURVIVAL CHECKLISTS,
so your more profound efforts will be accessible.