Research paper checklist

The answers to all of the questions below should be "yes." For further info, check pages 46-48 in your planner:

• 1. Does the heading follow MLA format?

  2. Is your last name and the page number printed in each of the upper right-hand corners?

  3. Do you have one inch margins?

  4. Is it double-spaced?

  5. Is the first line of each paragraph indented?

  6. Is the title more interesting than just the title of the work about which you are writing?

  7. If the title of work is included in the title of your paper, is it in italics?

  8. Are the first few lines of your paper a general discussion of the overall subject? (i.e. the generation gap)

  9. Do you use a quote?

  10. Do you explain the meaning of the quote? (In other words...)

  11. Is there a smooth transition from the general discussion to the first mention of the work?

  12. Do you mention the name of the work and the full name of its author?

  13. Is there a clear thesis statement?

  14. Do your body paragraphs have a strong, analytical topic sentence?

  15. Do you use the present tense to refer to events in the story?

  16. Do your sources explicitly relate to the topic sentence?

  17. Does the last sentence of each body paragraph link back to the thesis?

  18. Does the conclusion restate the thesis (use different wording) and mention the work and author?