Checklist for Synthesis Essay
Use this checklist to evaluate your essay before submitting it to the submission area for a final grade. This checklist is for your use only–do not submit this document, as you will not receive a grade for completing this.
1. Write the thesis statement here: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ My thesis is specific and clear.
_____ My thesis addresses the connections among the sources.
2. I formatted the essay correctly.
_____ I placed a header on each page (upper right hand corner) with my last name and the page number.
_____ I placed the identifying information (student name, instructor name, class, etc.) in the upper left hand corner, and I double spaced this information.
_____ I double spaced the entire essay, including the Works Cited.
_____ I centered my title at the beginning of my essay.
_____ I indented each paragraph.
3. I included a Works Cited page.
_____ I formatted the Works Cited page following proper MLA style format.
_____ I cited each source following proper MLA style format.
_____ I cited all of the essays (at least five) that I integrated into my essay.
4. I included textual examples within my essay.
_____ I included in-text citations for all quotes, paraphrases, and summaries.
_____ All quotes appear within quotation marks.
_____ I have changed the words and the sentence structures in all of my paraphrases and summaries.
_____ I have used textual examples (quotes, paraphrases, and/or summaries) to help me write a developed discussion.
_____ I have integrated at least five of the assigned essays into my essay.
5. I have met the page requirement of the assignment.
_____ My essay is at least five full pages in length.
6. I have supported my thesis.
_____ Each discussion within the essay works to support my thesis.
7. I have avoided redundancy.
_____ I worked to avoid overusing words, phrases, and sentence structures.
8. I have edited my essay for tense and P.O.V. shifts.
_____ I am consistent with my tense and P.O.V. I avoid using 2nd person P.O.V. (you, your).
9. I have edited my essay for dangling and misplaced modifiers.
_____ I effectively modify the intended word or phrase in the sentence.