Writing IV Essay Writing checklist
Essay Writing: Writer’s Checklist
I nt roduct ion:
1. I s t he m ain idea ( i.e., t he w rit er’s opinion of t he st ory t it le) st at ed
clearly?
2. I s t he int roduct ory paragraph int erest ing? Does it m ake t he reader w ant
t o keep on reading?
Body Paragraphs:
3. Does each body paragraph have a clear t opic sent ence t hat is relat ed t o
t he m ain idea of t he essay?
4. Does each body paragraph include specific inform at ion from t he t ext
( including quot ed evidence from t he t ext , if required by t he inst ruct or)
t hat support s t he t opic sent ence?
5. I s t here a clear plan for t he order of t he body paragraphs ( i.e., order of
im port ance, chronology in t he st ory, et c.) ?
6. Does each body paragraph t ransit ion sm oot hly t o t he next ?
Conclusion:
7. I s t he m ain idea of t he essay rest at ed in different w ords?
8. Are t he support ing ideas sum m arized succinct ly and clearly?
9. I s t he concluding paragraph int erest ing? Does it leave an im pression on
t he reader?
Overall Essay:
10. I s any im port ant m at erial left unsaid?
11. I s any m at erial repet it ious and unnecessary?
12. Has t he w rit er t ried t o incorporat e “ voice” in t he essay so t hat it has
his/ her dist inct ive m ark?
13. Are t here changes needed in w ord choice, sent ence lengt h and st ruct ure,
et c.?
14. Are t he quot at ions ( if required) properly cit ed?
15. Has t he essay been proofread for spelling, punct uat ion, gram m ar, et c.?
16. Does t he essay have an int erest ing and appropriat e t it le?
I nt roduct ion:
1. I s t he m ain idea ( i.e., t he w rit er’s opinion of t he st ory t it le) st at ed
clearly?
2. I s t he int roduct ory paragraph int erest ing? Does it m ake t he reader w ant
t o keep on reading?
Body Paragraphs:
3. Does each body paragraph have a clear t opic sent ence t hat is relat ed t o
t he m ain idea of t he essay?
4. Does each body paragraph include specific inform at ion from t he t ext
( including quot ed evidence from t he t ext , if required by t he inst ruct or)
t hat support s t he t opic sent ence?
5. I s t here a clear plan for t he order of t he body paragraphs ( i.e., order of
im port ance, chronology in t he st ory, et c.) ?
6. Does each body paragraph t ransit ion sm oot hly t o t he next ?
Conclusion:
7. I s t he m ain idea of t he essay rest at ed in different w ords?
8. Are t he support ing ideas sum m arized succinct ly and clearly?
9. I s t he concluding paragraph int erest ing? Does it leave an im pression on
t he reader?
Overall Essay:
10. I s any im port ant m at erial left unsaid?
11. I s any m at erial repet it ious and unnecessary?
12. Has t he w rit er t ried t o incorporat e “ voice” in t he essay so t hat it has
his/ her dist inct ive m ark?
13. Are t here changes needed in w ord choice, sent ence lengt h and st ruct ure,
et c.?
14. Are t he quot at ions ( if required) properly cit ed?
15. Has t he essay been proofread for spelling, punct uat ion, gram m ar, et c.?
16. Does t he essay have an int erest ing and appropriat e t it le?