Introduction

• Underline the thesis

• Does it have all of the four parts (topic, argument, subtopics, and what's the point)?

• Is the introduction the right length for the paper?

• Is there a title and does it fit the paper?

• Does the author clearly state what text is going to be discussed?

• Does the thesis use some sort of keyword that alerts you to what sort of criticism(s) (i.e. feminist, new critical etc.) will be done in this essay?

• Does the author make an argument about how the literary theory aids in understanding the text?

Body Paragraphs

• How many body paragraphs are there?

• Underline each of the topic and concluding sentences.

• Do the topic and concluding sentences relate directly back to the subtopics that were expressed in the thesis?

• Do the body paragraphs deviate from the plan laid out by the thesis either through the addition of other subtopics or the subtraction of existing subtopics?

• How has the writer organized the body paragraphs (i.e. what about them makes not be just one long paragraph)?

Conclusion

• Is there a conclusion paragraph?

• Does it restate the thesis with a difference in the first sentence?

• Does the last sentence take the topic out a broader level?

• Is the conclusion the right length?

In General

• Is the paper totally in the right format?

• Is the paper the right length (some on the third page)?

• Does the paper make a convincing argument?

• Are there some parts of the paper that seem unnecessary?

• Are there some things that the paper ought to have addressed? 

• Does the paper do what the thesis promises?

• Does the writer use whatever sort of theory she or he has selected correctly (ex. does the feminist critique focus on gender)?

• Does the writer follow my essay advice?