Checklist!What has to be in my essay?

The opening paragraph

Is the text and author clearly stated in the opening sentence?

Is the title correctly written, using capital letters and inverted commas?

Does the introduction use words from the question?

Does it include a brief summary of what the text is about?

Are the key topics of the task mentioned? Is some indication given as to how the

essay will develop?

The rest of your essay

You have to pay attention to 4 main things (because you’re marked on them!):

1. Relevance2. Structure3. Use of evidence4. Style and expression

Relevance The essay may begin by referring to the

question, but is this relevance sustained all the way through?

Are the words of the question referred to several times in the course of the essay, usually at the start of a paragraph?

Does the essay discuss themes, characters, style, etc rather than simply recounting the plot?

If the essay is about character development, does it analyse the factors that bring about changes in the character?

Structure Does each paragraph begin with a clear topic

sentence? Does the topic sentence relate to the

question? Does it point forwards to what is to be examined

next? Does the essay have a logical progression? In

other words, does one point lead to the next which leads to the next and so on?

Does the writer use linking sentences to bridge from one paragraph to the next?

Is there a clear conclusion or summing-up which refers to the question?

Use of Evidence Does the essay have a wide range of reference to

most of the text rather than focusing only on (for example) the opening chapters or scenes?

Are quotations used? Are they worded accurately? When a statement is made, is it backed up with

evidence? Are the quotations placed in context – i.e. is it clear

which character is speaking and where the words come in the context of the whole text?

Are quotations followed by at least one meaningful comment?

Is there variety to the types of evidence provided? For example, references to incidents or events can support a point as well as direct quotations.

Style and Expression

Is punctuation correctly used? In particular, do sentences end with full stops rather than running into each other (‘comma splice’)?

Are sentences of an appropriate length to make the point clear?

Is spelling correct? Is the essay written in an appropriately formal style? Is the language free of abbreviations and slang

expressions? Does the essay refer to the words of the question

without repeating them too often in exactly the same way?

Are linking words and phrases used to give continuity?