What Is Expected in Your Essay
In addition to having a tutor review your essay, review it yourself. Pay particular attention to the following things; these are what I focus on when I am grading your essay:
Intro and Thesis
In your introduction, you need a relevant and intriguing opening (lead-in), relevant context for your topic and claim, and a focused thesis that expresses the central claim of the paper.
Make sure you have a clear and focused claim in response to the prompt. Ask yourself, What is my thesis claiming? Is it an arguable claim? Does my intro and thesis give a good indication of what I will focus on in the body of my essay?
Support
In the body of the essay, you need clear main ideas that develop the central claim in the thesis.
Support your ideas with passages from the text that you quote and/or paraphrase (provide citations). Blend quotations into your sentences. After you’ve provided a quote or a paraphrase, comment on its significance to your point.
Use examples, explanations, and other types of support.
Avoid excessive summarizing of the texts.
Structure and Organization
Make sure the body paragraphs are logically organized (a sequence that makes sense according to your thesis). There should be a logical reason why your first paragraph is first, second paragraph second, etc. Use appropriate transitions that show how the body paragraphs are related to each other in idea. Avoid saying simply “First,” “Second,” and the like.
Make sure each body paragraph has a topic sentence that expresses the paragraph’s main idea (the point you are making in that paragraph). Each body paragraph should focus on only one main idea, and all sentences in the paragraph should relate to that main idea.
Use the “Essay Outline Template” (posted in Handouts folder) to check that your essay has structure, an appropriate introduction and thesis, topic sentences that express your main ideas, and an interesting conclusion.
Grammar and Language
Proofread to check the grammar and language is suitable for an academic essay. Read it aloud to yourself a couple of times.
Avoid weak sentences. Each sentence should make a relevant and worthwhile point. Ask yourself, What point am I making in this sentence?
Avoid awkward sentences (cumbersome to read).
Vary sentence structures.
Use transitions within the paragraphs for coherence. The paragraph should flow smoothly from sentence to sentence, and sentences should clearly be related to each other.
Length & Quotation Percentage
A complete essay is at least 1200 words.
More than 20% quotation is too much. Turnitin’s Originality Report (in red) tells you how much quotation you have. You can overwrite a submission as long as the due date hasn’t passed.
Please note:A paper that does not meet the word count will not receive a passing grade.
CHOOSE ONE PROMPT AND CITE WHATEVER SOURCES ARE USED. THANK YOU :333
