Table of Contents
It is convenient to use a checklist to ensure that all types of academic writing papers are well organized and effective. The first essential stage is discussing the title of the paper with the tutor prior to the very writing process. It can save the writer from a lot of efforts taken in vain if the title and direction of the paper are not appropriate. A well-developed essay is always based on the properly focused title.
Having completed the first paper draft, it is advisable to find the answers to the following questions:
Introduction
- Are the opening sentences clear and relevant?
- Do the first sentences capture the readers’ attention?
- Do the opening sentences state the subject importance, mention the work done prior to this current work, or emphasize the novelty of the subject that had no previous efforts taken?
- Does the academic paper have a thesis statement with a clear focus that matches the essay title?
- Does the thesis reveal the central theme?
- Is the thesis statement linked to a clear development plan?
- Does the introduction give the reader absolute understanding of the sequence of ideas presented in the paper?
Main Body
- Are the arguments developed according to my plan of development?
- Are all academic papers requirements met in the paper?
- Is there a topic sentence in every paragraph?
- Are supporting details sufficient?
- Have I ensured that the examples cited are concise and clear?
- Are the transitions smooth?
- Are the discourse markers appropriate for transition signaling?
- Is the development of ideas signaled with discourse markers?
- Are there any discourse markers like ‘however’, ‘on the one hand’, ‘on the other hand’, ‘furthermore’, etc.?
- Are the materials incorporated into the paper effectively? Academic term papers as well as other types of assignments mostly require a mixture of paraphrasing, summary and citations. However, lengthy quotations are appropriate only if they are important for the argument.
- Are all references properly acknowledged in the main body and conclusion?
Conclusion
- Is my academic writing coherent with the conclusion I have written?
- Does my conclusion restate the arguments from the instruction, does the summing up of the research results or offers suggestions on the basis of the issues and findings mentioned in the body?
Editing and Mistakes
- Are the verbs used in the proper tense form?
- Are the ideas and research opinions presented in the present simple tense?
- Are the verbs agreed properly with the subjects?
- Are the clause structures correct?
- Have I made sure that ‘but’ and ‘although’ are not found in the same sentence?
- Does the vocabulary used correspond to the writing academic papers requirements?
- Is the vocabulary precise and academic?
- Are all pronouns, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs chosen properly?
- Does the vocabulary ensure formality of writing and absence of overgeneralization?
- Are the verbs chosen properly? It is advisable to avoid informal phrasal verbs.
- Is the paper rich for synonyms?
- Is the balance between complex/simple and short/long sentences right?
- Is the paper proofread for spelling and grammar mistakes?
- Are the references formatted properly?
The academic writing checklist can help the writer to ensure the highest quality of all papers.
