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Checklist

Revising a Literary Analysis Essay

After you have completed a draft, it is important to revise and polish it. Use this checklist to help you revise. You may also want to have another person read your draft and give you feedback.

Read the questions in the first column of the checklist. In the second column, make notes about your draft.

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Questions for Revising�

Notes About My Draft�

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Is my purpose evident in the essay?

If not, what can I do to clarify the purpose?

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Does my essay begin with an introduction that engages the audience and that includes a thesis statement?

If not, what would be an appropriate way of engaging interest or beginning with an appropriate thesis statement?

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Does the body of my essay support the thesis with plentiful, specific evidence from the text?

If not, what additional evidence exists, and where could I add it?

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Do I present evidence correctly?

If not, where could I add quotations, and what is the correct form for them?

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Does my essay end with a satisfying conclusion?

If not, what points could I make or restate?

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Questions for Revising�

Notes About My Draft�

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Does my essay use an appropriate pattern of organization for this genre?

Does it use transitions as necessary?

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Are the language, voice, and tone of my essay appropriate?

If not, what inappropriate words or phrases did I use, and how can I change them?

Did I correctly refer to literary elements, avoid subjective opinions and terms of praise, and use appropriate analytical verbs?

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Does my draft contain sufficient variety in sentence length, sentence structure, and sentence beginnings to achieve readability�and sustain interest?

If not, where can I divide, combine, or alter sentences?

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Does my draft fulfill the length requirement?

If not, what more can I say about the theme I am tracing through this text?

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