Essay #1 Checklist

1) Does your introduction provide enough information for the reader? Or does it assume too much? Does it provide too much information?

2) Is your thesis clear? Is it specific? Is it precise? Does it make a clear claim about what you're going to be talking about in the essay?

3) Do you use quotes to advance your argument? Do you comment on them? Do you explain how the quote helps you out?

4) Do you cite them?

5) Is the point of each paragraph clear? Does it connect back to your thesis? Do you do this explicitly?

6) In your conclusion, do you address the "so what" factor? Do you tell the reader why all of this that you've talked about is important?

7) Have you read the essay out loud to check for awkward sentences?