Murder/Sleep: Fatals? Fudge.

Bunch of fatals on this exercise. Let's review and learn:  


Make sure you check your names. One of you spelled the last name of Cortez as Cortex. Oddly enough, that's the third time in the past two semesters of teaching this class that we've had that error. And again, it's precisely the sort of error spell check won't catch since you correctly spelled cortex. Be sure you double-check names for correct spellings.

One thing I'm wondering: is spell check causing this error? After all, cortex is a real word, and I would think spell check might suggest switching Cortez to cortex. Yet another reason spell check is a complement to, but not a substitute for, fact-checking by name and fact via your eyeballs.

In the sleep exercise, TWO of you misspelled Diana Gant's last name as Grant. Two otherwise-fine stories sink to a fatals.

Now, you may say it's a small error. But I'll counter with two things: first, when you mess up somebody's name, it's irritating and distracting as hell. (How do you like it when YOUR last name is misspelled?)

Second, readers are fair to ask this: if you got a small thing wrong, how accurate are you with the big things?

That's why we have to strive for perfection. Errors erode our credibility.

Make sure you check your titles. One of you referred to the North Pointe Inn, with an "e" in Pointe. In fact, it's the North Point Inn, with no "e" in Point. Again, due your due diligence in fact-checking befroe AND after you're writing.

If you're keeping track, nine of 12 class members are now Fatal Club members. Three to go.