Assignment Requirements
What Not to Do
What To Do
Common Comma Confusions
MLA
100

Word Count

800 to 1200 Words (which is about 3-4 typed pages)

100

Why is this a poorly written paragraph?


The girl was Elinor. Her sister was Marianne. They lived at Norland Park. Their father died. They had to move out after he died. 

Short, choppy sentences that each start "Subject + Verb"


100

Which is an acceptable memoir title?

A. Jane Austen and Me

B. EN 101 Paper

C. Memoir

A. Jane Austen and Me

100

Find the error:

In the end, the girls, had a lot of fun. 

No comma after girls (No need to divide the subject from its verb)

100

The correct font and size for this assignment

12 point font Times New Roman

200

the POV used in a memoir

First Person POV ("I", "we", etc)

200

What is wrong with this sentence?

Because he doesn't remember it.

It is a fragment, not a sentence. Only includes a dependent clause.

How to fix: Either add an independent clause to it (He had to ask her for her name because he doesn't remember it), or drop the conjunction "because" as it makes it a dependent clause. 

200

The last step you take in writing should be?

a. edit for organization

b. proofread for grammar

c. brainstorm ideas

d. write a first draft

B. proofread for grammar and spelling

200

Find the error:

It's time to eat James!

It's time to eat, James!

Set off a direct address by a comma. Without the comma, it seems as if the speaker is planning to eat James rather than inviting him to come eat with you.

(James, it's time to eat!)

200

Lines will be _______ spaced

Double

300

Your memoir should:

a. cover a wide range of topics

b. tell a specific story about an experience you had with reading 

c. tell the whole story of your life

B - tell a specific story about an experience you had with reading

300

Find the error:


I have too close the door.

I have to close the door.


Check common homonyms. (two/too/to, they're/their/there)

300

Is this okay? 

True or false:

I wrote my memoir about the summary of every book in the Narnia series. 

FALSE. Memoirs should focus on your own experience with reading one book. You are telling you own story that no one else can tell.

300

Double Jeopardy!

Place all the appropriate commas:

The book although it was long flew by as she read. 

The book, although it was long, flew by as she read.

300

If you quote someone or something other than your own thoughts, what would need to be included to avoid academic misconduct?

Works Cited Page

Follow MLA format guidelines available through Purdue OWL's page linked on BBL

400

What might qualify as "vivid detail or scenes"?

a. character dialogue

b. adjectives

c. metaphors, similes, etc.

d. all of the above and more

D. all of the above and more

400

Find the error:

The Percy Jackson series is about a boy who learns he is a demigod and he goes on adventures when he is not at Camp Half-Blood.  

Run-on sentence. Independent clauses need to be separated by a comma and a conjunction.

The Percy Jackson series is about a boy who learns he is a demigod, and he goes on adventures when he is not at Camp Half-Blood. 

400

True or False:

All sentences should follow the same structural pattern.

False. 

Vary sentence structure (simple, compound, complex), sentence openers (Subject + Verb, prepositional phrase, dependent clause, adverbs, participles, etc), and sentence length. 

400

What is wrong with this sentence? How can the error be corrected?

Beowulf proved to be a benevolent and wise king, he ruled for 50 years. 

Comma Splice (a comma linking two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction)

"Beowulf proved to be a benevolent and wise king, and he ruled for 50 years." OR "king; he ruled for 50 years." OR "kingHe ruled for 50 years."

400

True or False: 

I can use ChatGPT to write my entire paper! 

FALSE! Remember, using ChatGPT in any way is prohibited and will resort in a reporting of academic misconduct! 
500

This memoir should NOT be a book summary; instead, it should focus on.....

An experience you had with reading a specific book

500

Find the error:

Restless and homesick, home felt like 2000 miles away.

Dangling modifier. Make sure a phrase like "restless and homesick" is followed by the noun it describes OR reword.

Restless and homesick, I felt like home was 2000 miles away. 

500

When should you start a new paragraph?

When your topic has shifted slightly/ new aspects of the story are being focused on.

Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.

500

Place all the correct commas:


When Lily James Remus and Sirius were young they lived at Hogwarts a magical school in Scotland.

When Lily, James, Remus, and Sirius were young, they lived at Hogwarts, a magical school in Scotland. 

(Please review the commas usage guide on BBL as you edit your papers.)

500

Elements included in a proper MLA heading

Your Name

Prof. Name

EN 101

Date (I.e. 22 Sept. 2023)