Writing Assignment: Paragraph and Checklist: Evaluating Your Draft Essay

WRITING ASSIGNMENT Essay

Write a draft essay using the material you have developed up to this point or working with one of the following thesis statements. If you choose one of the thesis statements below, you may want to modify it to fit what you want to say.

Taking care of a sick (child/parent/spouse/friend) can test even the most patient person.

Being a good ___________ requires ___________.

Doing ___________ gave me a great deal of pride in myself.

A good long-term relationship involves flexibility and compromise.

Some of the differences between men and women create misunderstandings.

Question

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Writing Assignment: Essay: Write a draft essay using the material you have developed up to this point or working with one of the following thesis statements.

After you have finished writing your draft essay, complete the following checklist.

CHECKLIST

Evaluating Your Draft Essay

  • A clear, confident thesis statement states my main point.
  • The primary support points are now topic sentences that support the main point.
  • Each topic sentence is part of a paragraph, and the other sentences in the paragraph support the topic sentence.
  • The support is arranged in a logical order.
  • The introduction will interest readers.
  • The conclusion reinforces my main point and makes an additional observation.
  • The title reinforces the main point.
  • All the sentences are complete, consisting of a subject and verb, and expressing a complete thought.
  • The draft is properly formatted:
    • My name, my instructor’s name, the course, and the date appear in the upper left corner.
    • The first sentence of each paragraph is indented, and the text is double-spaced (for easier revision).
    • The pages are numbered.
  • I have followed any other formatting guidelines provided by my instructor.

Do not think about your draft anymore — for the moment. Give yourself some time away from it, at least a few hours and preferably a day or two. Taking a break will allow you to return to your writing later with a fresher eye and more energy for revision, resulting in a better piece of writing — and a better grade. After your break, you will be ready to take the next step: revising your draft.