MECHANICS

A strong paper:

• Contains few, if any, errors in the conventions of the English language (grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling), and NO typographical errors or errors in MLA formatting..  There are few, if any, problems with awkward or imprecise language use, including clichés and hyperbole.  There are no sentence fragments or run-ons.

STRUCTURE

A strong  paper will:

• Present a clear thesis statement that accurately determines the overall focus of the paper.  A clear thesis is an arguable claim, not a summative statement.
• Have a topic sentence, not a hook, at the beginning of the introductory paragraph.  The topic sentence addresses the work, it does not make general, global statements that are not specifically about the work.
• Have body paragraphs, which begin with topic sentences, that support the thesis and present an arguable claim.
• Present a concluding paragraph that is not summary of the content of the paper, but carries the content of the paper to the level of purpose (the ultimate “so what”).  The conclusion will refer back to the introduction helping to round out the essay.
• Have body paragraphs that begin with a transition from the prior paragraph’s content.  Transitions will NOT come at the end of the paragraph to prepare the reader for the paragraph to follow.
• Uses precise language and is not stilted by wordiness or redundancy.

CONTENT

A strong paper:

• Will present no summary unless directly required to set context for understanding a piece of text that is used to support an arguable claim.  A thesis statement that summarizes the plot of the story or the traits of the characters rather than presenting an arguable claim is the thesis statement of a weak paper.  The writer will address throughout the paper the ultimate significance of the arguable claims.  In other words, what is the author’s intent in presenting the idea the writer of the essay claims is present in the work.
• Is one in which all terms are defined clearly and used consistently.  It is one in which the writer avoids generalizations and supports all claims with textual evidence and analysis/ interpretation of that textual evidence.
• Is one in which the focused thesis statement is present in every single claim made throughout the paper, and, thus, it is clearly supported by the body of the paper.
• Is one in which the body of the paper presents arguable claims that are supported not only by textual evidence but also by the writer’s drawing conclusions from that textual evidence.  All textual evidence used will directly support each claim made and will be introduced by determining the speaker and occasion and will be followed by a direct deconstruction of the text in terms of the claim made (significance).  Text will never be used as a repetition of the writer’s words, nor will it be used in place of explanation or analysis.
• Is one in which every paragraph serves not only the thesis statement, but also the paragraph that follows it.
• Will reflect an accurate interpretation of the work and of plot points.
• Avoid clichés, poetic statements and hyperbole, and will use clear and direct language, a variety of sentence structures, and will avoid choppy or deliberate presentation of ideas.
• Will be in one in which the writer’s tone is formal, and the verb tense is present.
• Will avoid personal pronouns, conversational tone, and casual language.
• Will be in one which the writer has used, clear, direct precise language and has avoided wordiness and redundancy.