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From Canadian History Portal - HCO

Essay Writing → Start → Outline → Intro → Paragraphs → Template → Proofreading →→ Checklist → → I. Founders Topics → II. Settlers Topics → III. New Nation Topics

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When you are finished your essay you should proof-read it one more time. Use this check list to make sure you have all of the basic components of a formal essay.

Introduction

_____ An opening statement that tells the reader several things:

• What your essay is about
• When the event your describing took place
• Where the event took place
• Who was involved (if your essay is about a person or people).

_____ Begin to narrow the focus of your essay.

_____ A thesis/argument that you are trying to prove throughout your essay

_____ Outline the points that you will be covering in your essay in order of appearance

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Body of Your Essay

_____ Each paragraph has an opening sentence

_____ Each paragraph is concerned with only one thing/idea

_____ Each paragraph has a concluding sentence

_____ Your body paragraphs appear in the same order they're listed in the intro.

• You may want to have sub-points for your main points
• A sub-point is an element of your main point but is covered in a separate paragraph
• For example, an essay on the causes of World War II will generally deal with the Treaty of Versailles. This covers several things (reparation payments, restrictions on the German military, and the “war-guilt” clause). Each of these three points should be treated in a separate paragraph. However, they are all part of your main point, the Treaty of Versailles.

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Conclusion

_____ An opening sentence that underscore the importance of your topic.

_____ Re-state your thesis in your conclusion

_____ Re-emphasize the points from your essay in relation to your thesis

_____ End your conclusion with a bang not a whimper

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Citations/Works Cited/Bibliography

_____ You use MLA or Chicago style citation when needed

• Quoting directly from a source
• Using another person’s idea from one of your sources
• Using statistical information of any kind
• Indicating information that is not common knowledge
• Having the source in your bibliography, but not cited in your essay is insufficient

_____ Use proper MLA or Chicago style format for your bibliography or citations

_____ Sufficient number and variety of sources. Do not rely on 1-2 books.

_____ Use proper websites (if allowed)

• Universities
• Museums
• Archives
• Professional academic organizations/reputable governments/NGOs

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General Points to Bear in Mind

_____ Did you run the spell checker?

_____ Proof-read your essay (the spell checker does knot no every thing)

_____ Are people in your essay introduced properly?

______ Are unfamiliar terms explained?

______ Read aloud what you have written. Does it make sense?

• You are writing so other people understand your essay.
• Ask someone to read your essay. Ask them for an honest opinion about your writing. Be ready for criticism.
• Remember: writing is very difficult. Leave yourself enough time to rewrite and rework your essay.

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Essay Writing → Start → Outline → Intro → Paragraphs → Template → Proofreading →→ Checklist → → I. Founders Topics → II. Settlers Topics → III. New Nation Topics

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