University of Lowa

Final Checklist for Writing Essays

Education

• Does my paper respond to the assignment? Does it answer the question? Is it in the proper form?

• Do I have a thesis statement? Does it express my main idea? Is it too narrow? Too broad? Misleading?

• Is my paper well organized? Does it have an introduction, a body and a conclusion? Do my paragraphs flow logically and smoothly? Do I include transitions?

• Is my argument well-developed? Do I give sufficient support in examples, quotations, and details? Do I use too many quotations? Do I quote enough? Do I have any questions unanswered?

• Does all the information I have included relate to my thesis? Is it all necessary? Does it add to my argument, or detract from it?

• Is my tone appropriate to the assignment, subject matter and the course? Do I sound too informal? Too stuffy? At any point am I condescending or offensive?

• Am I writing to the proper audience? Who am I supposed to be writing for? My professor? A classmate? A random person off the street? Is my paper geared for this audience?

• Do I use proper citations? Have I made it clear which ideas are mine and which come from my sources? Have I followed the citation style my professor suggested? If there is no specification, did I follow a standard form in a published style manual?

• Have I spell-checked my paper? Have I proofread it for typos and grammar problems?

• Does my paper end with a strong conclusion? Does it relate back to my thesis? Do I have any loose ends? Does it feel finished?