Planning, writing and editing your article: a step by step guide

You can use the following steps to help plan, write and proof-read your article:

Introduction:
1.  Create a catchy title
2. Create an interesting and informative byline that includes your name
3. Start your article with a hook/interesting lead (rhetorical question, anecdote, etc.)
4. Your introduction should mention the poem, the poet, Art Spiegelman and “Maus”
5. Try to make use of feature article techniques, such as rhetorical questions, etc.

Repeat the following steps for each paragraph responding to one of the task questions:
6. Your paragraph should have a clear, concise topic sentence that identifies which question will be addressed
7. The paragraph should address part of the task statement (how the author was impacted by war/ the personal insight given/ how audiences are influenced to view war)
8. Your statements should be backed up with evidence from the poem/book or author
9. Your paragraph should included evidence that you have completed a SPECS and/or SLIMS analysis of the poem/song
10. Make sure the paragraph only deals with one key concept
11. Make sure you have a closing statement that wraps up the paragraph

Conclusion:
12. Your conclusion should draw on the ideas that have been discussed to make a closing statement
13. Make sure your conclusion draws the reader's attention back to the initial statement
14. You need to make direct reference to the authors and poem/book that has been discussed
15. Make sure you avoid bringing in new information
16. Aim to close your argument by leaving the reader with a strong idea to consider

General Proof-Reading Questions to ask yourself:
17. Are there instances where punctuation needs to be addressed?
18. Are there instances where spelling needs to be addressed?
19. Are there instances where the information is hard to follow because of poor sentence construction?
20. Are there instances where the information is hard to follow because of poor expression?
21. Are there instances where you have made poor word choices?
22. Are there instances where you have made grammar mistakes?

Formatting Questions to Ask Yourself:
23. Is there at least one relevant picture included?
24. Does the picture/s have a caption explaining what the picture is and where the photo is from?
25. Is the work set out in a feature article format (large heading, slightly smaller but still identifiable byline, columns, pull quote(s), etc.)?