Academic Writing Checklist & Guidelines

1. Is your thesis clearly affirmed at the beginning of the paper?

2. Is your thesis narrow enough for  a paper of this length?

3. Is your thesis realistically interesting or original?

4. Have you incorporated sufficient evidence to convince someone who disagrees with you?

5. Have you chosen your proof or evidence cautiously and elaborated how it proves your point?

6. Have you projected and answered smart questions and objections to your idea?

7. Have you avoided measly summary? (unless your tutor has specifically asked for a one)

8. Have you used quotations with heed? (Too many quotations seem like stuffing. Extremely few on the other hand may give the impression you have done no reading on the subject.)

9. Are your paraphrases really your own words and technique of writing? (Do they resonance like the rest of your paper?)

10. Is your paper logical? Have you avoided contradictions and oversimplifications?

11. Is your sentence style simple and to the point?(No wordiness)

12. If suitable, have you provided enough documentation and page references?

13. Is your grammar fundamentally correct? Have you proofread the ultimate copy?

14. Is your organization unproblematic to follow? Is it somewhat like the diagram on the other side of this sheet?

The secret of excellent academic writing – the kind you often have to do for psychology, history and other courses – is the assumptions you have to make about the individual reading your paper. In academic writing, it’s preeminent to assume that the person reading and grading your manuscript is not your real teacher but, is someone we will call your teacher’s twin. Not only does your tutor’s twin not know who

you are, but,  he or she also:

1. Is overwhelmed by new, innovative ideas and is turned off by simple summary of what is being said in class or what is written in the book. (The exception to this is if your teacher has specifically asked for a summary.)

2. Initially disagrees with your ideas/reactions/interpretations.

3. Can be persuaded to concur with you if you give sufficient evidence and explain rationally enough.

4. Resents being told to obtain your word for anything hence expects precise, detailed proof, often including enough documentation and page references (title of book, author, etc.) so he/she can look things up for him/herself.

5. Is insulted if you fail to anticipate and provide an answer to his/her intelligent questions and objections.

6. Expects academic papers to avoid slang language, be written in reasonably appropriate grammar, and follow the prescribed pattern.