Name__________________________________________ (Essay Objectives)

Invention and Deliver

_____The writing attempts to extend or re vise thinking, uncover meaning, or discover significance.

_____The main idea/thesis is appropriately focused and readily accessible to the reader.

____The writing has public resonance (or attempts to engage a public issue).

_____Claims and statements are sufficiently supported.

_____Support strategies are varied and appropriate for the topic.

_____Opposing perspectives are appropriately addressed.

_____Any outside research is integrated appropriately and formatted correctly.

Organizational Strategies

_____The main idea is supported or developed throughout the essay.

_____The paragraphs are coherent and transitions are made between paragraphs.

_____The introduction strategically brings the reader from the everyday world into the content of the text.

_____The conclusion returns the reader to the everyday world with new insights.

_____Both introduction and conclusion resonate with the main point throughout the body of the essay.

Writer’s Voice

_____Language is not offensive or too informal (free of slang) for academic readers.

_____Language is not sexist, racist, stilted or demeaning.

_____The writing avoids using clichés as insights.

_____The writing attempts to engage the reason and logic of the reader.

_____The writing speaks with rather than at the reader.

Sentence Vitality and Structure

_____Sentence structure works to engage the reader and develop thinking.

_____Sentence length is appropriately varied in length and style.

_____The essay is free of sentence fragments, fused sentences, comma splices, and unnecessary constructions.

_____Sentences have vitality (and are not slowed by expletives, wordy phrases, and unnecessary clauses.

_____Sentences are concise.

_____Words and vocabulary level develop the reader’s thinking and communicate sophisticated ideas.

_____Words are used accurately to develop the ideas of the essay.

Grammar/Mechanics/Usage

_____capitalization

_____punctuation

_____spelling

_____subject/verb agreement

_____verb forms/tense

_____pronoun/antecedent agreement

_____Also, the essay has been carefully edited.