Question
Review your explanatory text and make sure you are ready to turn it in. Remember the assignment specifics below.
Portfolio Topic: Write an Explanatory Text Portfolio about why change is necessary for personal growth even though life changes are difficult (or alternate topic as assigned by your teacher).
Revising and Editing Checklists: Make sure you have used the Revising Checklist and Editing Checklist to strengthen your writing.
Rubric: Use the Writing Explanatory Text Portfolio Rubric to make sure you are meeting all the goals of the portfolio.
CheckMyWork: Remember to submit your own work. You can use CheckMyWork to make sure your work is original.
Now select Upload Files to upload the final draft of your explanatory text to the Drop Box.
(20 points)
Portfolio Topic: Write an Explanatory Text Portfolio about why change is necessary for personal growth even though life changes are difficult (or alternate topic as assigned by your teacher).
Revising and Editing Checklists: Make sure you have used the Revising Checklist and Editing Checklist to strengthen your writing.
Rubric: Use the Writing Explanatory Text Portfolio Rubric to make sure you are meeting all the goals of the portfolio.
CheckMyWork: Remember to submit your own work. You can use CheckMyWork to make sure your work is original.
Now select Upload Files to upload the final draft of your explanatory text to the Drop Box.
(20 points)
Answers
GPT-5 mini
I can’t click the “Upload Files” button for you, but I can review your explanatory text, make final revisions, and help you prepare a file that’s ready to submit. Please paste your final draft here or upload the file, and I’ll do a full pass (content, organization, clarity, and copyediting). Before you send it, use the checklist and steps below to confirm everything is ready for grading.
Quick readiness checklist (do these before submitting)
1. Topic & focus
- Title present and relevant.
- Clear thesis statement that asserts why change is necessary for personal growth despite difficulty.
- Every paragraph links back to the thesis.
2. Organization & development
- Logical structure: introduction, body paragraphs (each with a clear topic sentence), conclusion.
- Evidence/explanations in each paragraph (examples, reasons, or brief anecdotes).
- Smooth transitions between paragraphs and ideas.
3. Explanation & depth
- Explains why change is necessary (benefits: learning, resilience, new opportunities).
- Acknowledges difficulty and explains how difficulty is part of growth.
- Balances emotion/experience and explanation/reasoning.
4. Audience & tone
- Appropriately formal/informal per assignment.
- Consistent voice and tone targeted to classmates/teacher.
5. Conventions & mechanics
- Sentences vary in length and structure.
- Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Correct paragraph breaks and indentation.
6. Revision & editing proof
- You used the Revising Checklist and Editing Checklist (include a note in a cover sheet if required).
- Word count meets teacher’s requirement (if any).
7. Originality & submission
- Run your draft through CheckMyWork (or your school’s plagiarism tool) and save the report.
- Save final file as [LastName_FirstName_Portfolio.docx or .pdf] unless other naming required.
Rubric-based checklist (ensure you meet common rubric items)
- Purpose & Focus (thesis clear and maintained)
- Organization (intro with hook, clear sequencing, strong conclusion)
- Evidence & Development (reasons/examples for claims, depth of explanation)
- Language & Style (appropriate vocabulary, sentences varied)
- Conventions (grammar, punctuation, spelling)
- Presentation (title page/formatting if required)
Revision checklist (content-focused)
- Is the thesis specific and arguable?
- Does each paragraph have a topic sentence and supporting details?
- Do body paragraphs avoid irrelevant details?
- Is there at least one strong example or short anecdote to illustrate claims?
- Does the conclusion restate thesis and show implications for the reader?
Editing checklist (sentence-level)
- Subject-verb agreement and pronoun clarity
- No run-on sentences or sentence fragments
- Commas with introductory phrases, lists, and clauses
- Correct capitalization (titles, proper nouns)
- Spelling: use spell-check and read aloud for missed mistakes
Common fixes for this topic
- Avoid vague statements: replace “change is good” with “change forces reflection, which promotes self-awareness.”
- When you say “difficult,” show how difficulty helps (e.g., setbacks teach problem-solving).
- Use a short personal example or hypothetical to make abstract ideas concrete.
- Keep transitions like “however,” “for example,” and “as a result” to signal relationships.
How I can help if you upload/paste your draft
- Identify thesis strength and suggest improvements.
- Mark paragraph-level issues and suggest reorganizing where needed.
- Add or tighten topic sentences and transitions.
- Provide line edits for grammar, punctuation, and word choice.
- Give a final polished draft and a version with tracked edits/comments.
- Run a quick originality check guidance (I can’t run CheckMyWork; I’ll show how to interpret the report).
Submission steps (what you should do)
1. Save your final draft as a PDF or the format your Drop Box requires.
2. Name the file: LastName_FirstName_Portfolio (or your teacher’s required format).
3. Run CheckMyWork (or your school plagiarism checker). Save the report/confirmation.
4. Go to your class Drop Box → Select “Upload Files” → choose your file → attach CheckMyWork report if required → Submit.
5. Confirm submission (screenshot or confirmation email) and keep a copy.
Next step
- Paste your final draft here or upload the file. I’ll do a focused review and return edits and suggestions ready for you to submit.
Quick readiness checklist (do these before submitting)
1. Topic & focus
- Title present and relevant.
- Clear thesis statement that asserts why change is necessary for personal growth despite difficulty.
- Every paragraph links back to the thesis.
2. Organization & development
- Logical structure: introduction, body paragraphs (each with a clear topic sentence), conclusion.
- Evidence/explanations in each paragraph (examples, reasons, or brief anecdotes).
- Smooth transitions between paragraphs and ideas.
3. Explanation & depth
- Explains why change is necessary (benefits: learning, resilience, new opportunities).
- Acknowledges difficulty and explains how difficulty is part of growth.
- Balances emotion/experience and explanation/reasoning.
4. Audience & tone
- Appropriately formal/informal per assignment.
- Consistent voice and tone targeted to classmates/teacher.
5. Conventions & mechanics
- Sentences vary in length and structure.
- Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Correct paragraph breaks and indentation.
6. Revision & editing proof
- You used the Revising Checklist and Editing Checklist (include a note in a cover sheet if required).
- Word count meets teacher’s requirement (if any).
7. Originality & submission
- Run your draft through CheckMyWork (or your school’s plagiarism tool) and save the report.
- Save final file as [LastName_FirstName_Portfolio.docx or .pdf] unless other naming required.
Rubric-based checklist (ensure you meet common rubric items)
- Purpose & Focus (thesis clear and maintained)
- Organization (intro with hook, clear sequencing, strong conclusion)
- Evidence & Development (reasons/examples for claims, depth of explanation)
- Language & Style (appropriate vocabulary, sentences varied)
- Conventions (grammar, punctuation, spelling)
- Presentation (title page/formatting if required)
Revision checklist (content-focused)
- Is the thesis specific and arguable?
- Does each paragraph have a topic sentence and supporting details?
- Do body paragraphs avoid irrelevant details?
- Is there at least one strong example or short anecdote to illustrate claims?
- Does the conclusion restate thesis and show implications for the reader?
Editing checklist (sentence-level)
- Subject-verb agreement and pronoun clarity
- No run-on sentences or sentence fragments
- Commas with introductory phrases, lists, and clauses
- Correct capitalization (titles, proper nouns)
- Spelling: use spell-check and read aloud for missed mistakes
Common fixes for this topic
- Avoid vague statements: replace “change is good” with “change forces reflection, which promotes self-awareness.”
- When you say “difficult,” show how difficulty helps (e.g., setbacks teach problem-solving).
- Use a short personal example or hypothetical to make abstract ideas concrete.
- Keep transitions like “however,” “for example,” and “as a result” to signal relationships.
How I can help if you upload/paste your draft
- Identify thesis strength and suggest improvements.
- Mark paragraph-level issues and suggest reorganizing where needed.
- Add or tighten topic sentences and transitions.
- Provide line edits for grammar, punctuation, and word choice.
- Give a final polished draft and a version with tracked edits/comments.
- Run a quick originality check guidance (I can’t run CheckMyWork; I’ll show how to interpret the report).
Submission steps (what you should do)
1. Save your final draft as a PDF or the format your Drop Box requires.
2. Name the file: LastName_FirstName_Portfolio (or your teacher’s required format).
3. Run CheckMyWork (or your school plagiarism checker). Save the report/confirmation.
4. Go to your class Drop Box → Select “Upload Files” → choose your file → attach CheckMyWork report if required → Submit.
5. Confirm submission (screenshot or confirmation email) and keep a copy.
Next step
- Paste your final draft here or upload the file. I’ll do a focused review and return edits and suggestions ready for you to submit.