Argumentative Research Paper

A- Title:

1. Is there a title? ________Yes ________No

2. Is the title centered? _______ Yes _______ No

3. Does the title specifically state what the paper is about? _____ Yes _______ No

4. The title is NOT underlined, italicized, or quoted, right? Did the writer do this correctly? ___Yes ____No

B-Introduction:

1. Does the opening paragraph clearly set the context for what the paper is about?? ______Yes ______No

2. Is there an attention-getter in the first sentence of the paper? ____Yes ______No

3. After the first couple sentences, does the writer provide the background detail of the case? ______ Yes _____No

4. Is there a good transition between the attention-getter and background information? ____Yes ____No

5. Does the introduction pose a "Research Question" that the writer will research?

______Yes _______ No

6. Is there a thesis that answers the research question? ______Yes _______ No

7. Is the thesis at the end of the first paragraph? ______ Yes ______ No

8. Please, write done

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C-Body

Paragraph #1

1. Is there a topic sentence (reason) in the first sentence of this paragraph?

_____ Yes _____ No

(Remember that a topic sentence is not a question or a quote).

2. Does the writer set up the quote or paraphrase with his or her own ideas and words? _____ Yes ____ No

3. Does the writer provide quotes and/or paraphrases to support the topic sentence? ____ Yes ____No

4. Is the quote connected to the writer’s own words? _______Yes ______No

(Remember that you do not want a quote hanging out by itself).

5. After the quote, is there some kind of explanation of how the quote supports the topic sentence? ______ Yes _____No

(Make sure the body paragraph does not start or end with a quote.)

Paragraph #2

1. Is there a topic sentence in the first sentence of this paragraph?

_____ Yes _____ No

(Remember that a topic sentence is not a question or a quote).

2. Does the writer set up the quote or paraphrase with his or her own ideas and words? _____ Yes ____ No

3. Does the writer provide quotes and/or paraphrases to support the topic sentence? ____ Yes ____No

4. Is the quote connected to the writer’s own words? _______Yes ______No

5. After the quote, is there some kind of explanation of how the quote supports the topic sentence? ______ Yes _____No

(Make sure the body paragraph does not start or end with a quote.)

Paragraph #3

1. Is there a topic sentence in the first sentence of this paragraph?

_____ Yes _____ No

(Remember that a topic sentence is not a question or a quote).

2. Does the writer set up the quote or paraphrase with his or her own ideas and words? _____ Yes ____ No

3. Does the writer provide quotes and/or paraphrases to support the topic sentence? ____ Yes ____No

4. Is the quote connected to the writer’s own words? _______Yes ______No

(Remember that you do not want a quote hanging out by itself).

5. After the quote, is there some kind of explanation of how the quote supports the topic sentence? ______ Yes

_____No

(Make sure the body paragraph does not start or end with a quote.)

Paragraph # 4

1. Is there a topic sentence in the first sentence of this paragraph?

_____ Yes _____ No

(Remember that a topic sentence is not a question or a quote).

2. Does the writer set up the quote or paraphrase with his or her own ideas and words? _____ Yes ____ No

3. Does the writer provide quotes and/or paraphrases to support the topic sentence? ____ Yes ____No

4. Is the quote connected to the writer’s own words? _______Yes ______No

(Remember that you do not want a quote hanging out by itself).

5. After the quote, is there some kind of explanation of how the quote supports the topic sentence? ______ Yes _____No

Make sure the body paragraph does not start or end with a quote

D- Conclusion:

Now read the conclusion paragraph of the essay. Does it do the following things: (it should?)

a. Restate the thesis in a different way.

b. Offer a reasonable suggestion about solving the argument.

c. Summarize the main points made in the essay. __

If the final paragraph does not do any of these things, then write suggestions to the writer here.

_______________________________________

SECTION # II

A-Citations and Works Cited Page:

Please write either “Yes” or “No” in the blanks before each entry as appropriate.

1.______At least 5 different sources are cited (direct quotes or paraphrases)

2._____ At least 5 citations in paper (more paraphrases and summaries than direct quotes)

3._____ Citations come BEFORE the period in a sentence (except on extended quotes)

4._____ Citations contain NO COMMA between author and page number.

5._____ Each quote is sandwiched between an intro and a following comment (insight)

6.______Are the borrowings gracefully introduced?

7.______Has the writer provided documentation?

8.______Has the writer explained why they are significant?

9.______Has the writer interpreted them?

10. Is the Works Cited in a separate page?

11.______Does the label Works Cited appear centered at the top of the page typed regularly (no bold, italics, or underlines, and only initial caps)?

12.______Are sources capitalized?

13._____ Are all lines of an entry after the first line indented?

14._____ Does each entry end with a period?

15.______Are article titles in “quotation marks”?

16._____ Are names of books underlined?

17._____ Are entries alphabetized by the author’s/editor’s last name or entry’s title

SECTION # III

1. How many total parenthetical references are in the entire essay? (should be min. of 5 )__________________________________

2. How many different sources are cited? ________ (should be min. of 5)

3. Are there any direct quotations from the source material? __________ If so, are any of them longer than four lines? If there any long ones, remind the writer here to use the proper citation.

4. Is it clear when the writer is summarizing someone else and when s/he is using his/her own ideas? _______Yes ______No

5. If the writer has a problem in this area, then make suggestions here.

6. Is the Works Cited page format correct? _______Yes ______No

7. Check for alphabetizing of sources; indents; font; information included in source citations. Are they correct? _______Yes ______No

8. Paper is at least 4 full pages, not including the works cited page; keep in mind that the longer and more in depth your paper, the higher your ideas/content grade will be. Is the paper short? _______Yes ______No

9. Quotations formatted with correct number of quotation marks, commas, periods, etc. Are they correct? _______Yes ______No

10. Has each quotation the correct parenthetical citation at the end of it?

_______Yes ______No

11. Is (qtd. in ) used when someone other than the author of the source is quoted? And Are 3 quotation marks surrounding quote are also used in this situation? _______Yes ______No

12. Does the writer use 5 or more sources in paper; articles & books? _______Yes ______No