Have you checked for everything your nonfiction needs?

Extra bonus for ICL Students: Each item in the checklist is keyed to your course material
in the Writing for Children and Teenagers Course.

CM = Course Manual
EE = Essentials of English
IP = From Inspiration to Publication

A. ORGANIZATION

__________ My article explains an old topic in a new way

• Most kids want new answers to why and how rather than to where and when.
• IP: p. 107-116; CM: p. 97-101, 208-209; TA: Focus

__________ My article is age-appropriate

• Make sure both theme and readability will interest your target group.
• IP: p. 19-21, 116-117; CM: p. 116-121, 203-205; TA: Age

__________ The title entices the reader to continue

• Have an interesting title that interests your reader in nonfiction.
• CM: p. 111; TA: Titles

__________ I have an enticing opening

• Catch your readers early or you will lose them.
• IP: p.109-110, 136-138, 127 ; CM: p. 107-108; TA: Bang

__________ The middle of my article offers easily-understood explanations

• Children need the Reader's Digest version of complicated topics like electricity.
• IP: p. 128-130, 138-141; CM: p. 108-109; TA: Articles

__________ The ending of my article summarizes the topic

• Remember: Tell them what you're going to say, say it, and then summarize.
• IP: p. 130-131,143; CM: p. 109-110

__________ I have researched my topic thoroughly

• Encyclopedias are not acceptable sources to most editors.
• IP: p. 118-119, 147-160; CM: p. 103; Also Searching - A Research Guide for Writers

__________I documented my sources

• Editors will ask where you obtained your information - keep good records.
• IP: p. 157; CM: p. 211

__________I leave myself out of the article

• Personal experiences should only appear in an introduction.
• CM: p. 103

__________I organize my material logically

• Avoid ping-pong-writing - don't bounce around your topic.
• IP: p. 121-126; CM: p. 101-102; TA: NF-6, How-to

__________I use a comfortable "voice" for children

• A nonfiction author can tell a "story," too
• IP: p. 141-143; CM: p. 112; TA: NF Storyteller, Kid

__________I use sensory imagery

• Use all five senses to develop immerse your readers in your topic.
• IP: p. 77-78; CM p. 63-66

__________I add extra information in sidebars and pictures

• Sidebars, pictures, puzzles, and activities add to an article's appeal.
• IP: p. 143-144; CM: p. 210; TA: Sidebars

__________My query letter explains the article's hook and focus

• A query letter is your introduction to the editor. Make it sparkle.
• IP: p. 214; CM: p. 217-219; TA: Query

__________ I target my article to a specific publisher

• Look for themes and study a publisher's style before submitting.
• IP: p. 215-220

B. SENTENCES

__________ I use complete sentences

• Model proper English for young readers.
• EE: p. 56-58; TA: Sentence Frag

__________ I use a varied sentence structure

• Vary sentence length and configuration.
• EE: p. 36-48; TA: Run-on Sent

__________ I use active, rather than passive voice and strong verb structures

• My sentence subject is doing something, not being done to "by" someone or something else.
• Avoid the pesky linking verb (am, is, was, were, are, be) and its -ing partner.
• IP: p. 207; EE p. 19-20; CM: p. 72; TA: Verbs: Passive

__________ I use consistent tenses

• Pick a tense and stay with it throughout the article
• EE: p. 20-23; TA: Verbs: Teses

__________ My subject, verb, and object agree

• Singular words never agree with plural words.
• EE: p. 61-70

__________ My pronouns agree with my verbs

• Be aware of which word your pronoun replaces.
• EE: p. 70-79

__________ I maintain first, second, or third person throughout the article

• Never switch between I and she in your story.
• IP: Chapter 5

__________ I use transition words to show time or location change

• Young readers appreciate gentle shifts between paragraphs.
• EE: p. 158-161; CM: p. 243

__________ I pruned weedy words from my literary garden

• Every word should be important to your article.
• EE: p. 190-192; CM: p. 245; TA: Words

C. MECHANICS

__________ Spelling

• Don't trust spell-check to interpret your connotation. Use a dictionary.

__________ Capitalization

• Know the rules and obey them.
• EE; p. 2-3, 134-135

__________ Punctuation

• Avoid overuse of commas and exclamation points. Properly punctuate quotes.
• EE: p. 119-139

__________ Manuscript properly formatted

• Editors appreciate a double-spaced manuscript with one-inch margins.
• CM: p. 22