Helping Hand

Dear Students,

On your corrected papers, you may find a number following the proofreading symbol. Each number corresponds to the section in your Writers Inc handbook that explains the rule and is provided to assist you in correcting and eliminating mechanical errors. Repeated errors of the same type may result in required correction and re-submission.

To help eliminate repeated errors, please look over your papers carefully and review the rules for the concepts checked.  For example students often have problems with commas.  One rule found in Writers Inc is as follows:  “A comma may be used between two independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions such as these: but, or, nor, for, yet, and, so.” ( 579, 1996 edition)  If you check for the type of error made and learn the rule behind it,  you will soon cease making that error.  You will learn even faster if you make the necessary corrections on all your papers.  Try it!

Another writing skill many students repeatedly omit is the use of parenthetical references.  All students in high school, whether freshmen or seniors, must cite their sources within the text.  This means they must place the name of the source and the page number where the information is found in parentheses after the information that is found or borrowed.  Any paper that uses sources or has a bibliography must have parenthetical references in order to give proper credit for the information to its author.  Review the rules for citing sources in Writers Inc and Write For College.  Research papers without properly cited sources will receive lower grades. 

We love to give good grades.  Please help us by making sure you add up your hours and record your daily average scores to verify your grade.  Under the heading on the Quarterly Reporting Summary sheet are four boxes to record your hours spent, number of days spent, number of pages covered, and average daily score.  Double check before sending your papers in to make sure these boxes are filled for each subject.  If you do not have this form, please let us know immediately so we can send you one.  

We hope this helps you.  If you have any questions, please write or call.  E-mail works great!  You may call and leave a message at any time.  Our e-mail address is hpsprep@homeschool-hps.com. 

Sincerely,

Ila Edwards, M. Ed.  
Program Director