Paper Revision Policy

When it comes to writing, nothing is perfect and I want to encourage you to look back at your work and see it with fresh eyes. There is nothing like time to allow us to see mistakes and chicanery in our writing.

I have added a category to your overall grades for revision work. This will be an area where you are allowed to earn as much extra credit as you are willing to work for. I can't think of a better way to encourage you to re-visit your writing again and again and again and again and again and...well, you get the idea I hope.

All revisions must be typed, spell-checked, and submitted with the original(s) and/or additional copies of revisions. I would also appreciate a title page. I do not mind if you do the same paper 100 times! I will add additional ways to earn points as your papers continue to teach me the types of errors you are making and as I see how often and who decides to take advantage of this extra credit opportunity in AP.

Here are ways to earn points on revision work:
1) correcting MLA citation errors and grammatical errors (10 points).
2) revise/enhance/rethink order of paragraphs to enhance flow (10 points)
3) revise thesis statement and body paragraphs to reflect the new proof (10 points)
4) explain on a separate page what the overall focus of your changes consisted of and why you made them. (10 points)
5) a one-on-one conference with me about your paper (10 points--must be arranged in advance and is your responsibility)
6) revising for errors in logic (10 points)
7) revising to enhance flow, vary sentence length, include transitions (10 points)
8) revising to avoid repetition, misinterpretation, or inappropriate tone (10 points)
9) revising to incorporate voice (10 points)
10) revising introduction, conclusion and topic sentences--this will likely mean re-visiting the text to try to answer the "so what" (10 points)

Advice for Revision of HAMLET papers

Since most of you chose the "corruption" theme, I am going to use that to offer suggestions of how to revise your papers. First of all, attack the question in chunks. What images of corruption do we see in the play? Well, the play starts off with the country in a state of war or post war. The King appears to have wrongfully claimed some land. This opens up the audience and the reader to the idea that this is a devious King.

Next, a ghost shows up. Ghosts don't show up when things are all good and happy. Right? I mean, this is no Casper. So, explain that and what it might mean.

Next, the use of poison--it was used to kill twice in the play and is a symbol of corruption,no?


Snake/serpent imagery--look for it, it is there and for a reason too.

Disease==madness kiddies, is a disease. Who is mad, goes mad, feigns madness or by faking becomes mad is all tied up in the idea that if you are not honest and real, you are corrupt and deceitful and you will pay a price. Who is guilty of this in the play? Almost everyone. Ros & Guil take the King's side and aren't honest w. Hamlet, Hamlet fakes madness lots, the Queen is false to herself, her son, and perhaps in her love of Claudius, etc, etc.

Loss of virtue--if you'd like you can use Ophelia and the Queen in this arguement but there is also Hamlet who sinks pretty low to trap King Claudius.

Now, think of levels
There is corruption of the state and thus society--important to remember that the King represents the country and his actions reflect directly on what happens to the people both inside and outside the royal family
corruption of the individual--ones actions lead to condequences, one small immoral step might lead down a rocky road
corruption of another through deceit--what you say or do to someone else might mess them up.

Finally, when you quote, do it like this:
Summary of scene in play, quote, analysis, tie analysis to theme. Also use (IV, iii, 323-326) as your citation format.