Jim Roth’s Website

English 101 Checklist for Essay #2

Does your introductory paragraph have these five elements?

1. name the author

2. name the work

3. add a brief summary

4. build a bridge to your thesis (a transition)

5. state your thesis at the end of the paragraph

Is your essay composed mostly of your own ideas and words with occasional blending of the What Matters in America author’s words?

Have you applied the tests of unity, coherence, and completeness to your body paragraphs? Please see “Briefly Back to the Basics” for help and specifically “Paragraphs Made Easy.”

Have you read your draft ALOUD to locate wording that needs to be improved? Please see “Briefly Back to the Basics” for help.

Have you used proper MLA-style parenthetical citations for the words and ideas borrowed from your author?

Have you used signal phrases (sometimes called "author tags" to lead into your What Matters in America author’s words?

Have you provided a proper MLA Works Cited page entry, listing the What Matters in America article you used?