CHECKLIST FOR HISTORY PAPERS
(Research and Analysis)
Words matter and a well designed paper should put them together in ways that are thought –provoking, powerful and engaging. This checklist will help you to do that. Four major interdependent factors are most important in creating an effective history paper: what it says, how clearly and convincingly it says it, and how engaging it is to read. (i.e. CONTENT, ORGANIZATION, GRAMMAR and FORMAT and the AUTHOR’S STYLE and “VOICE”. ) Think carefully about these elements before you write, as well as after you have completed your first draft of a paper. Ask yourself these questions:
_______ 1. Does your introductory paragraph grab your reader? Is it sufficiently interesting that we wish to continue to read?
_______ 2. Does your opening paragraph state your premise or thesis? Do you define key terms in it?
________3. Do you present abundant and appropriate evidence, examples and explanation throughout the paper to support your thesis?
________4. Does your paper actually discuss/answer the questions you stated you would explore?
________5. Is everything in the paper related to your thesis in an apparent way?
________6. Is everything in the paper YOUR OWN? Are all uncited ideas and information stated in your own words and in your own order? Are you certain that you have cited all information that must be cited?
_______ 7. Is the paper as a whole well organized? Does it flow gracefully?
_______ 8. Is there a smooth and coherent transition from each paragraph to the next?
_______ 9. Do you seem to have the right number of paragraphs in the paper? (Not too many or too few) Paragraphs of dramatically different length often indicate a weakness in the way you have thought through your argument. Think of a paragraph as a “window” into your work; a new indentation and topic sentence serve as a light for your reader that helps her/him to see what you will discuss next.
______10. Do you have a strong conclusion that brings closure to your discussion? Does it leave your reader engaged and thinking? Do you avoid meaningless generalizations?
______11. Is your paper neatly typed with proper and consistent capitalization?
______12. Is the paper double-spaced? Are your paragraphs indented and are there two spaces between sentences?
______13. Have you stayed within the page limitations you were given?
______14. Have you used proper footnote and bibliographical form throughout your paper and annotated bibliography?
______15. Have you checked each of the following spelling and grammatical elements?
· spelling
· punctuation (Check for commas, semicolons, periods, in particular.) Remember that you must have a complete sentence on each side of a semicolon!
· Consistency in tense usage. (If you are writing in the past tense, stay there throughout the paragraph; don’t switch to the present.)
· Do pronouns agree in number with the nouns to which they refer?
(For example, “A student should do their homework.” Is incorrect.
· Is your paper free of fragments and run-on sentences?
Finally, have you proofread your paper at least once silently, and read it aloud to yourself and/or a willing listener at least once in order to pick up awkward phrasings and vague spots?
That’s the cake! If your paper passes the checklist, it’s probably a very good paper. For a REALLY good paper –one that you are eager to write and your teachers are eager to read – here is the frosting – a few more criteria to consider:
_______ Is your language colorful, are your images vivid, your verbs strong and your adjectives truiy descriptive?
_______ Do your sentences vary in length and word order? (Have you avoided beginning two or three sentences in the same paragraph with “The Renaissance was…..) Do you vary the simple subject-verb pattern we use to construct most sentences?
_______In spite of all the formal restrictions that we have imposed on you in these rules, have you thought deeply and creatively about the topic you are examining? Do not be afraid to venture a new interpretation of the material you are exploring. All you need to do is to support it persuasively! S-T-R-E-T-C-H yourself and shake that kaleidoscope!
Posted on September 24th, 2009 by cjanus
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