1. Creating the First Draft
Points to Remember

2. Purpose, Audience, and Tone
These elements deal with the overall effect of your essay and should guide you throughout your writing. Ask yourself the following questions:

3. Purpose, Audience, and Tone
Does my essay fulfill all the required elements of the assignment?

4. Purpose, Audience, and Tone
Do I state my thesis in the introduction paragraph?
It should tell the reader—
The Topic – What my essay is about
The Idea – What I am going to say about it

5. Purpose, Audience, and Tone
Is my tone appropriate to my audience and purpose? Does my audience have any special requirements?

6. Purpose, Audience, and Tone
Is my tone consistent throughout the essay?

7. Examples, Evidence, and Details
Have I adequately developed my thesis or main idea? Do I use specific details rather than generalities?

8. Examples, Evidence, and Details
Are my examples and evidence accurate, relevant, and convincing?

9. Structure
Is the organization of my writing appropriate to my topic and thesis?

10. Structure
Does my introduction catch the reader's attention? Does my conclusion summarize and tie up the loose ends of my paper? Do I end with a “Big Idea”?

11. Structure
Are my paragraphs well developed, unified, and coherent?

12. Structure
Does one paragraph flow into the next? Do I use transitions between paragraphs?

13. Sentence Construction
Are my sentences correct? Have I avoided fragments and run‐ons?

14. Sentence Construction
Have I avoided short, choppy sentences?

15. Sentence Construction
Do I combine sentences effectively? Do I avoid monotony by varying my sentences in length and structure?