Essay 2 Checklist
Essay 2 ChecklistBelow is a checklist of important re-writing issues for Essay 2. Please work through the checklist with your own essay. You also may use the checklist to check each other's work.
REVISION
1. _____ Introduction that provides context and leads the reader toward the thesis statement (probably about a third of a page long, counting the thesis statement).
2. _____ Clear thesis statement at the end of your introduction that sums up your point of view on the speeches. Recommendation: Underline your thesis to help yourself check that it is there.
3. _____ A one-paragraph summary (about 1/3 page) of each speech that includes the main point and important ideas and that, for the most part, uses your own words.
4. _____ A topic sentence for each comparison paragraph (typically at the beginning of each paragraph) that sums up the point of the individual paragraph and supports your thesis. Recommendation: Try underlining each topic sentence to help yourself check.
5. _____ Support for each topic sentence that examines specific details from the speech or speeches and offers insight (explains significance of the details and links them to each topic sentence). Reminder: These paragraphs should be about half a page long.
6. _____ Effective use of transitions and repetition within paragraphs to create a logical "flow" of ideas.
7. _____ Logical order for all of the body paragraphs in the essay.
8. _____ Effective use of transitions and repetition between paragraphs to create a logical "flow" of ideas.
9. _____ A conclusion that reinforces the thesis, echoes the introduction, and ends the essay on a strong note (probably about a third of a page).
DOCUMENTATION (Recommendation: Highlight every quotation, paraphrase, and summary in your essay.)
1. _____ Are your quotations accurate and have you used quotation marks?
2. _____ Have you correctly used ellipsis points and brackets?
3._____ Do your quotations fit logically and grammatically into your own sentences?
4. _____ Do your paraphrases really use your own words and sentence structure?
5. _____ Within your paraphrases, are any exact words or phrases you've kept correctly enclosed in quotation marks?
6. _____ Do your paraphrases make sense? Do they really say what the candidate meant?
7. _____ Have you introduced each quotation and paraphrase (used some kind of transition)?
8. _____ Have you always made some reference to the candidate when you're referring to his ideas or words? Is it always clear when you are referring to the candidates' ideas and when you are referring to your own ideas?
9. _____ Is your Works Cited page formatted correctly and does it list the speeches correctly?
EDITING (Recommendation: Read through your essay four times, once for each item below. Try reading backwards, sentence-by-sentence, for at least one of the readings.)
1. _____ No syntax errors (especially fragments, comma-splices, confusing sentences, wrong word errors).
2. _____ No stylistic weaknesses (especially use of informal language: "I," "you," slang, contractions).
3. _____ No grammar errors (e.g. subject-verb agreement errors, verb tense errors, pronoun errors, etc.).
4. _____ No spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.
PROOFREADING
1. _____ Correct MLA format. Recommendation: Check SG, pp. 333-37.
| _____ Heading in top left-hand corner of page 1 (name, instructor, class, date) | |
| _____ Informative title, centered left to write | |
| _____ Heading in top right-hand corner of pages 2-4 (Last Name #). | |
| _____ Double-spaced text. Reminder: No extra spaces between paragraphs. | |
| _____ 1-inch margins on top, bottom, and sides. |
2. _____ 12-point type, Times New Roman.
3. _____ Quality print job (no blue print, streaks, low toner, etc.).
4. _____ No typos.