Eighth Grade · Writing · week 7

Editing and Attributing Sources

Edit the draft for run-ons and comma splices at the sentence level, and attribute key claims to real, named sources using signal phrases.

Sentence-level editing is the final polish pass after structure is settled: fixing run-ons and comma splices, keeping verb tense consistent, and varying sentence openings so the essay does not sound repetitive. It comes after structural revision on purpose -- there is no point polishing a sentence that might still get cut or moved.

An op-ed also needs honest attribution. Unlike a formal research paper, an op-ed usually names its source right inside the sentence with a signal phrase -- "according to the CDC," "as researchers at Stanford found" -- rather than a formal citation. The source must always be real and specifically named; writing "studies show" without naming which studies borrows credibility dishonestly.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Read one sentence at a time aloud -- run-ons often reveal themselves the moment someone tries to say them in a single breath.
  • Keep a short list of signal phrases handy: "according to...", "as [name] explains...", "research from ... shows..."
  • Insist on real, checkable sources for every attributed claim -- if your student cannot name where a fact came from, treat it as unverified.
  • Do a dedicated read-through just for verb tense consistency -- past and present tense often blend together by accident in a first draft.
Talk about it:
  • What is one run-on or comma splice you found and fixed?
  • Which claim in your essay needed a named source, and what signal phrase did you use?
  • Why does naming a real source make a claim more convincing than "studies show"?

Mastery looks like: They correct run-ons and comma splices and attribute key claims to real, named sources using signal phrases.

Common stumbles: Leaving a persuasive-sounding claim ("experts agree...") unattributed to any real, checkable source.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Punctuation PowerThe same words as a statement, a question, or a shout — hear it change.try →Sentence TypesJoin clauses with and, but, because → compound & complex sentences.try →Sentence BuilderDrag word tiles into a real sentence, with a capital and end mark.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Writing for this learner.
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