Writing Process for a Documented Essay

Read it out loud

Have others read it too you

Solicit feedback from readers

Consider feedback with an open mind

Ask questions

Look at your biases

Review the writing situtation--Rhetorical context--of the assignment

Content

Do the readers have all of the needed background?

Is there too much repetition?

Are some details too lengthy or irrelevant?

Are there enough concrete examples?

Is everything true?

Are all claims support and/or qualified?

Are all assumptions and logic explicit or directly implied?

Is the opposition addressed completely/adequately?

Organization

Does the organization flow as expected?

Are the transitions present and meaningful?

Do the paragraphs hang from a clear topic sentence/controlling idea?

Style

Sentence flow

Are the sentences appropriately varied?

Are there unintentional rhymes or alliteration that work against the ideas?

Does the reader "gasp for breath" at the end of a sentence?

Are the main ideas of the sentences highlighted? Are the supporting clauses interrupting the idea flow?

Is there a sense of wordiness, such as tripping over long verb or noun phrases?

Word choice

Is the wording precise and concrete?

Are the descriptions appropriate to the topic?

Are there numerous indefinite pronouns? Ambiguous pronouns?

Are key terms repeated for emphasis?

Are there ambiguous referents?

Is the diction (level of vocabulary) appropriate to the audience?

Tone

Does the writing sound too conversational?

Does the writer sound sound pompous?

Does the tone or voice shift? (examples: first person to second; formal to informal)

Mechanics

Spelling

Punctuation

Citations

Physical layout