Error logs are designed to help you improve your grammar & punctuation skills. You will complete an error log for papers 1, 2, and 3. Before I start reading your paper, it has an error log score of 25/25, and for each grammatical, punctuation, or usage error I find and mark in the paper, the score goes down by one point (you cant end up with a negative error log score; 0/25 is the lowest possible score). In order to regain those points, you need to prepare an error log to be turned in with your final draft. Below you will find a list of guidelines for creating your error log and a sample error log.
Error log guidelines
Type your error logs (and, as for all other work you type, make sure you have your work backed up!). Save the error log as in this sample file name: seg0901.doc. If you have two files (like a paper and its error log) to save on the same day, save one with a letter (a, then b, then c, etc.) after it: seg0901a.doc.
Each error log entry must contain three items: (1) a brief description of the error, (2) where in Pocket Keys for Writers the error is discussed (page number or section), and (3) the corrected version of the word or (part of) sentence. Entries which are incomplete will not get full credit.
The description of the error shouldnt be too brief I made a punctuation error, for instance, is not informative enough; instead, write something like This sentence contains a comma splice or I should have used a colon before beginning a list. See the sample error log entries below to get a better idea of what Im looking for.
If you make the same error more than once, you dont have to repeat your description or where in Pocket Keys the error is discussed just write Same as error #__ and give the corrected version.
I will never explain your error log errors I will only mark them by underlining them. If you see a comment near an error log mark, the comment is not related to the error log error.
Error log errors are the sorts of errors discussed in Pocket Keys punctuation errors, usage errors (their vs. there vs. theyre), subject-verb agreement errors, etc. They are not spelling errors or problems like a lack of development, logical fallacies, etc.
Remember, if you have trouble identifying an error log error, you may consult with me, a fellow student, or a writing center tutor; however, you may not simply take your paper to the writing center and have them identify all of your error log errors for you.
Even if you change the paper so that the sentences with your errors are gone, you still have to do the error log.
Not doing an error log will result in a zero for the assignment, regardless of the score written on the revised draft.
Had you gotten back from me paper that contains a paragraph marked like this one, your error log would look like the one below:
Body language says so much about a person. What they are thinking, feeling, and sensing in the world around them. An outstretched leg can show discomfort, exhaustion, or even embarrassment. But what I find most interesting is watching ? peoples body language in casual conversation. Whether ? its a conversation between boys and boys, girls and girls, or boys and ? girls; body language takes a whole new meaning when in casual conversation. So I spent five days observing ? peoples body language.
Error Log
(1) This is a sentence fragment theres no main verb. (Pocket Keys 19). Corrected version: You can see what they are thinking, feeling, and sensing in the world around them.
(2) Apostrophe error people is plural without the s, so the plural is formed by adding s (Pocket Keys 27a). Corrected version: peoples.
(3) I used the wrong its/its. Its means it is and its is the possessive (Pocket Keys 27d). Corrected version: its a conversation
(4) I shouldnt have a semi-colon here because the first part isnt an independent clause. (Pocket Keys 26a). Corrected version: girls, body language
(5) Same as #2. Corrected version: peoples.