Essay Checklist
As you write your essay, remember.....
□ 1. Always end a paragraph in your own words.
□ 2. Make sure that the opening statement in your introductory paragraph simply introduces the topic and is not a thesis itself.
□ 3. Be sure that each of your topic sentences introduces a unique argument and ties that argument into your thesis. Also remember your transitions.
□ 4. Where you do include a quotation of more than four lines remember to indent.
□ 5. If you wish to exclude part of a quotation, and the quotation still makes sense, use...
□ 6. Remember to frame each quotation or paraphrased evidence with you own words. Introduce the context of the quote/evidence in your own words, provide the quote/evidence and then state, in your own words, how the quote/evidence is relevant to your argument and your thesis.
□ 7. Do not use personal pronouns like I, me, we, you, our, my, etc.
□ 8. Do not introduce arguments with, The third argument is......
□ 9. Do not attempt to write an essay the night before it is due; it is simply too much work. Ideally, you should write the essay, put it down for several days and then come back and carefully proofread it.
□ 10. You must have quotation marks around direct words from any source.
□ 11. Double space your essay.
□ 12. Use 12 font or something close. Use a standard style font.
□ 13. Your borders should be consistent
□ 14. Do not forget to include p. numbers. Centre on top or bottom, or to the right bottom of your page. The first page of your essay does not require a number.
□ 15. Include a title page. The title of your essay should not simply be the subject of your essay. In addition to the title of your essay, include your name, teacher's name and date of submission.
□ 16. Do not include the title of your essay on the first page of the essay.
□ 17. Avoid using hypothetical or rhetorical questions. They leave too much open to the interpretation of your reader. Never end your essay with a question.
□ 18. Proofread your work out loud. If it doesn’t make sense to you, it won’t likely make sense to anyone.
□ 1. Always end a paragraph in your own words.
□ 2. Make sure that the opening statement in your introductory paragraph simply introduces the topic and is not a thesis itself.
□ 3. Be sure that each of your topic sentences introduces a unique argument and ties that argument into your thesis. Also remember your transitions.
□ 4. Where you do include a quotation of more than four lines remember to indent.
□ 5. If you wish to exclude part of a quotation, and the quotation still makes sense, use...
□ 6. Remember to frame each quotation or paraphrased evidence with you own words. Introduce the context of the quote/evidence in your own words, provide the quote/evidence and then state, in your own words, how the quote/evidence is relevant to your argument and your thesis.
□ 7. Do not use personal pronouns like I, me, we, you, our, my, etc.
□ 8. Do not introduce arguments with, The third argument is......
□ 9. Do not attempt to write an essay the night before it is due; it is simply too much work. Ideally, you should write the essay, put it down for several days and then come back and carefully proofread it.
□ 10. You must have quotation marks around direct words from any source.
□ 11. Double space your essay.
□ 12. Use 12 font or something close. Use a standard style font.
□ 13. Your borders should be consistent
□ 14. Do not forget to include p. numbers. Centre on top or bottom, or to the right bottom of your page. The first page of your essay does not require a number.
□ 15. Include a title page. The title of your essay should not simply be the subject of your essay. In addition to the title of your essay, include your name, teacher's name and date of submission.
□ 16. Do not include the title of your essay on the first page of the essay.
□ 17. Avoid using hypothetical or rhetorical questions. They leave too much open to the interpretation of your reader. Never end your essay with a question.
□ 18. Proofread your work out loud. If it doesn’t make sense to you, it won’t likely make sense to anyone.