1. Editing Your
Extended Definition Essay
English Composition

2. Peer or Self Editing
Are you taking the time to carefully read and
check the boxes on the peer editing sheet
or are you just going through the motions?
Remember, your writer is counting on you to
help point out problems before he/she
writes the final draft. Be true to your job as
an editor and do not take shortcuts! Help
others as you wish to be helped yourself. If
you are self editing, be honest and do not
just checkmark down the sheet.

3. Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
For this particular assignment, you will not
need to hand in a Works Cited page, but
you can document your source(s) within
the text of your paper.
You might do something like this:
According to the American Heritage®
Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000, the
definition of passion is “…” (Online).

4. Eight Count
Eight Count is a method used to help you improve your
word choice by making you aware of the level of
your writing. You can’t fix it if you don’t know that it
is broken, right?
1. Select 8 sentences
Divide run-ons; count as individual sentences.
Do not include introductions or conclusions.
2. Count words that have three or more syllables in
those 8 sentences.

5. Eight Count
Do Count:
words with three or
more syllables
“higher level” one/two
syllable words or
mature phrasing
Do Not Count:
 simple two syllable words
+ ing/ed/es
 any word more than twice
 a multi-syllable word
used incorrectly
 a proper noun
 words provided in the
prompt

6. 3. Convert word count to grade level.
0-5 = 3rd
grade vocabulary
5-10 = 5th
grade vocabulary
10-15 = 8th
grade vocabulary
15-20 = high school vocabulary
20 + = pre-college vocabulary
Is the level of your diction rising?
Eight Count

7. Ratiocination
Step 1: Using TWO different colored
pencils, underline every other sentence
throughout your essay with alternating
colors.
Step 2: Circle the first word of every
sentence in a new color.
Step 3: With another new color, place a
triangle around any semicolons that you
have used.

8. Ratiocination
Step 4: With your fifth color, draw a rectangle around
transitional words and phrases that introduce
paragraphs.
Step 5: Mark out every VERY and A LOT that you see on
the paper with an X.
Step 5: Check for sentence variety. Are you writing a blend
of simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
sentences?
Step 6: Revise your paper based on findings.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR YOUR ROUGH
DRAFT YOU MUST COMPLETE BOTH THE 8 COUNT
AND RATIOCINATION AND YOUR ROUGH DRAFT
MUST BE HANDED IN AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR
FINAL COPY.

9. When is my paper due?
The final copy of your paper is due at the
beginning of the next class period. Your
paper should be typed in 12 pt font and
doubled spaced. Use a standard font that
is easy on the eyes.
BE SURE TO USE SPELL CHECK
BEFORE YOUR PRINT YOUR PAPER!
The heading for your paper should be in
MLA format.

10. MLA Heading Format
TOP LEFT:
Your first and last name
Mrs. Buche
EC/CR
Today’s date – in this format:
20 November 2010

11. Points For This Assignment
Essay – 300 points
Wordle – 100 points – The wordle must have your
primary word printed as the largest on the sheet
and your 3 or 4 subtopics of the word written in a
smaller font. AVOID BLACK BACKGROUNDS.
Peer/Self Editing – 100 points
Ratiocination & 8 Count Rough Draft – 100 points
Works Cited – 100 points – Graphic Org 100
800 points TOTAL