DRAFT ESSAY SELF CHECK LIST

While essay writing can never be reduced to a painting-by-numbers exercise, you can hone your skills by being attentive to the points listed below. This non-exhaustive list is intended to provide some pointers as to how you might refine your skills. Overall taking your essay as a whole - consider the following questions:
Does my essay respond to the question set? Reread the essay question and try reconsidering your essay as if it were someone elses. Does my argument hold together? Reading the essay aloud may help you reflect on this. Is my argument sufficiently supported by evidence? Have I drawn support from a variety of academic sources? Be careful not to over-rely on one or two pieces of literature if every second or third reference is from the same source you may not have read widely enough. Do I simply report what others have said about an issue or do I evaluate and comment on what they have said? You should aim to do the later, using the academic references in your own argument. . Do I make assertions (avoid) or do I argue and demonstrate my points (strive for)? Do I make universalizing statements (avoid)? Does the essay have an effective introduction and conclusion? Reread your essay again looking at its structure Have I properly acknowledged my sources?

Section specific questions look at specific section mentioned and consider the following questions:
Introduction Does my introduction explain what precisely is being asked (without using the exact words of the question)? Does my introduction tell the reader what I will do in the essay?

Main Body Overall: Is there a clear plan to the body of the essay have I structured my argument in the best way? Does the body of the text follow the order I mapped out in my introduction? Does each paragraph develop logically from the previous one and lead logically towards the next one, or are they simply a series of unrelated points? Do any paragraphs stand alone without connecting to the others? If so is this paragraph relevant or necessary? Does each paragraph have a relationship to the question asked? If not is this paragraph relevant or necessary? Ask again, does my essay answer the question posed? 1

Is the main point of each paragraph clear? Is this main point adequately supported with specific details/evidence/analysis?

Conclusion Does my conclusion summarise the main points/arguments made in the essay? Have I introduced new material in my conclusion? The conclusion is not the place to do this. Does my conclusion offer a firm and concise answer to the question asked i.e. a strong defence of my central argument?

Style/Technical Matters
Are the words used clear and precise? Am I using words to mean what they actually mean? (if unsure about a words meaning check with a dictionary or thesaurus). Is the language used appropriate for a piece of academic work? (Do not use slang or be too emotive, but also dont use unnecessarily convoluted language). Have I written in sentences? Are the sentences clear can they be understood on first reading? Are they too long or too short? Could any be made clearer by separating or restructuring them? Reading aloud will help you spot sentences that need revising. Have I checked spelling and grammar? Have I proofread the essay? Do this a day after finishing the draft and using a paper copy (do not do it on-screen). Reading the essay aloud will help you spot problems such as awkward phrasing, missing words, repetition etc. Have I cited properly? Remember that plagiarism refers to the unacknowledged use of another persons ideas, words or work either word for word or in substance without specific acknowledgement. Have I used the Harvard system of referencing? (Please refer to A Guide to Referencing in Sociology, see student handbooks and Blackboard) Have I included a full, detailed bibliography in the required format? When proof reading, tick off each entry in the list of references as you come across it in the essay text. This will help you spot omissions and un-required entries. Have I complied with the word limit set for this assignment?