Does your thesis statement present the following elements: 1) your opinion; 2) your support for this opinion from primary sources (state two or three reasons)?

Research Essay

1,200-1400 words
Checklist

1. Does your thesis statement present the following elements: 1) your opinion; 2) your support for this opinion from primary sources (state two or three reasons)?

2. Does each topic sentence clearly state the main point of the paragraph and show how the paragraph relates to the thesis?

3. Do the topic sentences, when read sequentially, guide the reader through each step of your analysis and argument?

4. Does your paper contain four well developed middle paragraphs?

5. Does each middle paragraph include the following elements: a) a focused topic sentence; b) your own analysis of your primary source(s); c) two or more references to the primary material or specific examples; d) two or more references to your secondary sources?

6. Are the essays assertions clear? Are they adequately supported?

7. Does the organization of your paper further your assertions/argument?

8. Have you removed irrelevant material?

9. Does the conclusion restate the thesis, sum up the main points, and suggest a broader context or the implications of your subject?

10. Have you used three or more secondary sources to support your central argument?

11. Have you followed MLA style for citations and bibliography?

a. in-text: MLA format

b. works cited page: MLA format

12. Is your source material (whether summarized, paraphrased, or quoted) presented fairly and accurately?

13. Have you rechecked the citations for all the sources in your paper?

14. Have you prepared an alphabetical list of your sources for the end of your paper?

Please acknowledge these requests in the essay as well:

-When providing citations provide a mixture of paraphrase and direct in-text quotations. There should not just be paraphrasing.

-Topic sentences should not contain quotations or references
Provide more effective transitions between paragraphs for example like accordingly, additionally, consequently, furthermore, and moreover are adverbs

-You must include the primary source of the play into the essay in addition to 3 other scholarly articles. If you are able to cite the primary source from:

Puchner, Martin, et al. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Shorter 4th ed. Vol. 2.

-This would be beneficial. If you are unable to obtain access that is fine but you must include “Faust” the play by Geoethe in some way and use it to cite references to support the thesis.

-Furthermore, when choosing scholarly articles please ensure they are publicly accessible that are within the public domain. They would not require payment to download or access them fully. A good rule of thumb would be to check “google scholar” and establish first, if it is a scholarly article and within the public domain.

Below are preferred scholarly websites that you can use if the conditions are met:

https://www.academia.edu/

https://www.jstor.org/

MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics – Purdue OWL – Purdue University

MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format – Purdue OWL – Purdue University

Essay Format

Please observe the following exactly:
1. Use Times New Roman 12.

2. NUMBER PAGES.
3. Do not use a title cover-page.
4. Use standard Canadian English spelling.

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