Auditing

_____ My paper’s style is appropriate for the intended reader.

· I have maintained a professional approach to writing with the words I chose.

· I have minimized quotes from different sources (these often make my paper choppy).

· I have kept a formal tone.

· I chose appropriate words for the intended purpose of the paper?

· I have only jargon (specialized vocabulary of a particular group) only when it is appropriate and understood?

· For most academic writing, I have used the third person to phrase my view. (That doesn’t mean I used “one” all the time, but I wrote sentences in a less personal way, for example, “Fibbonacci was one of the world’s most important mathematicians” rather than “I believe that Fibbonacci...” or “You should recognize that Fibbonacci...” )

_____ My paper has an introduction that

· defines the topic – the issue, question, or problem – and says why it matters.

· provides necessary background or context.

· offers a thesis that my paper will develop.

· indicates my method of approach to the topic.

· engages the reader, without being cute or “gimmicky”.

· provides a “funnel” into my thesis (going from background and generalizations to a specific issue or topic).

· doesn’t 1) digress, 2) move in too many directions, or 3) settle the question or issue to be discussed.

_____ My thesis statement makes a claim about my paper’s topic that can be proved by the evidence I provide in the body of my paper. It also

· makes a claim that readers could disagree with.

· doesn’t state an obvious fact or truth.

· doesn’t rely on conventional wisdom.

· doesn’t just state my personal opinion or what “feels” right to me as the basis for my claim.

· is specific and doesn’t use broad categories or abstract wording; it gives an indication about the complexity of my subject.

_____ My paper has a body that analyzes my topic or issue and supports my claims with evidence. It also

· Discusses what the evidence means and links it clearly to my claims.

· Doesn’t treat opinions as facts.

_____ My paper has paragraphs that are cohesive and well written.

· They generally contain only one major point.

· That point supports the thesis statement.

· The major point is presented in the topic sentence of the paragraph.

· Specific details in each paragraph support the topic sentence.

· There is a progression from sentence to sentence; some sentences are linked with “word transitions” like however, such as, etc.

· There is progression from paragraph to paragraph (linked with “thought transition” statements).

· The sequence of paragraphs is logical and effectively builds toward my conclusion.

· The end result is to persuade the reader that the idea expressed in my thesis is valid.

_____ My paper has sentences that

· are clear, straightforward, and precise

· include a variety of sentence construction

· correctly written, using standard English (correct grammar, spelling, usage, and punctuation). This means that I have

· proper sentences, not fragments or run-on sentences

· correct subject-verb agreement

· not shifted the sentence structure

· correct pronoun-antecedent agreement

· no misplaced modifiers or dangling participles

· used possessives and plurals correctly

· used commas and semi-colons correctly

· correct spelling and word usage

_____ My paper has a conclusion that leads the reader out of my paper.

· It makes a final judgment on the question or issue that my paper has focused upon.

· It culminates the paper by bringing my thinking together and making a final statement on my position (not just summarizing the paper).

· It leaves the reader with something further to think about and moves beyond the specific details in the body of the paper.

· It 1) is not redundant, 2) doesn’t raise a totally new point, 3) doesn’t overstate the case by claiming more than my evidence has proven, 4) is not anticlimactic by ending with a concession or an inconsequential thought.

_____ My paper includes appropriate formatting and documentation using the APA style, consistently and correctly applied.