diff --git a/pull_request_template.md b/pull_request_template.md
index 0b6965b..b719fc3 100644
--- a/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,19 +1,37 @@
-Some helpful tips for a successful Apache Thrift PR:
+### Pull Request Guidance ###
 
-* Did you test your changes locally or using CI in your fork?
-* Is the Apache Jira THRIFT ticket identifier in the PR title?
-* Is the Apache Jira THRIFT ticket identifier in the commit message?
-* Did you squash your changes to a single commit?
-* Are these changes backwards compatible? (please say so in PR description)
-* Do you need to update the language-specific README?
+Review the following items to ensure a smooth pull request experience.
 
-Example ideal pull request title:
+- [ ] Did you make a breaking change?  If so:
+
+  - [ ] Add (or reference) an [Apache Jira](https://issues.apache.org/jira/projects/THRIFT/issues/) THRIFT ticket.
+  - [ ] Add a `Breaking-Change` label to the Jira ticket.
+  - [ ] Add a note to the `lib/<language>/README.md` file.
+  - [ ] Add a line to the `CHANGES.md` file.
+
+- [ ] Is this change significant enough to be in release notes?
+
+    All release-note worthy changes require an [Apache Jira](https://issues.apache.org/jira/projects/THRIFT/issues/) THRIFT ticket.
+    For example:
+    - Breaking Changes
+    - New, Deprecated, or Removed Languages
+    - Security Fix
+    - Significant Refactoring
+
+- [ ] If there is an [Apache Jira](https://issues.apache.org/jira/projects/THRIFT/issues/) ticket: 
+
+  - [ ] Is the [Apache Jira](https://issues.apache.org/jira/projects/THRIFT/issues/) THRIFT ticket identifier in the PR title?
 
         THRIFT-9999: an example pull request title
 
-Example ideal commit message:
+  - [ ] Is the [Apache Jira](https://issues.apache.org/jira/projects/THRIFT/issues/) THRIFT ticket identifier and affected languages in the commit message?
 
         THRIFT-9999: [summary of fix, one line if possible]
         Client: [language(s) affected, comma separated, use lib/ directory names please]
 
+- [ ] Did you squash your changes to a single commit?
+
+        Committers can squash when they merge, but sometimes we forget, and it makes the history
+        pretty dirty.  Please squash your pull requests to a single commit if you can.
+
 For more information about committing, see CONTRIBUTING.md