English 251: Checklist for Writing Assignments

English 251: Introduction to Literature

Writing Assignments: checklist for an essay in progress

Be sure to aim for at least a full, single-spaced typed page (standard 1-inch margins, 12-point type).

This means that if you write out your analysis by hand, you will want to shoot for more than a page. Of course this is just a general guideline. Your paper doesn't have to be a full page, but if it's fairly short of that, you have a pretty fair indication that you need to push yourself further. If you're having trouble carrying your analysis deep enough, try some of the tips on generating the "right sort of stuff." (Remember: the point of the length criterion is as a rule of thumb for pushing you into more depth.)

The following checklist may be useful in making sure that you've met the criteria for evaluating essays, which lie behind the grading scale set forth on the general page on writing assignments. Print it out and take the measure of your draft, as it begins to take shape. You may find your draft needs some tinkering and supplementation before its ready for handing in.

Adequate = satisfactory for the purposes of this assignment. Needs Improvement = this draft is not yet ready to be regarded as a final draft	Outstanding	Adequate	Needs improvement
Thesis:	========	=======	=======
Clearly stated — definite (not vague) & unified (not "there are several factors")?
Clearly indicated as thesis (e.g., by placement at end of 1^st ¶ or beginning of final ¶)?
Directly on-point in respect of the assigned topic?
Body of essay:	========	=======	=======
Several sub-theses clearly distinguished?
Each adequately developed?
Explicitly grounded in concrete particulars of the work?
Account taken of possible objections?
Logical rather than chronological organization?
Sub-theses taken up in some logical order (rather than more or less randomly)?
Sub-theses subsumed under hierarchical, not just coordinate structure (listing)?
Sub-theses interlinked with insightful transitions?
Conclusion (if any, since it’s not strictly necessary here)	========	=======	=======
Consistent with introduction?
Grounded in body?
Functional (i.e., contributing more than mere repetition of what’s already been said by, e.g., pointing to further significance of the thesis developed by the body)?

Suggestions, comments and questions are welcome. Please send them to lyman@ksu.edu .

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This page last updated 18 February 2000.