A.  Introduction – Includes research question & thesis.  Includes discussion of why topic is important for study & personally significant.  Includes a game plan for rest of essay.

B.  Body – Includes the central arguments that will be used to defend thesis.  Includes the various subsections and how each will help to defend thesis.  Includes evidence that will be used to support thesis.  Includes analysis and evaluation of evidence. The relevance of all evidence to the research question is clear. Evaluation of sources is evident.

C.  Conclusion – Includes discussion of defense of thesis.  Includes an evaluation of the work.  Includes new or unresolved questions which arise from research.  (since it is early in the essay process, the conclusion may not be thoroughly developed.)

D.  Bibliography – Includes at least 15 scholarly sources.  Format is correct and appropriate to subject of essay.  (Literature essays may have fewer than 5 sources.)

E.  Overall Assessment – Fulfills length requirement of 3-4 pages typed single-spaced.  Shows an appropriate level of analysis and critical thinking about topic.  Shows an appropriate level of work and effort on the assignment.