Q This personal review is not required, but I strongly encourage everyone (whether you submit this review or not) to fully consider the following questions as you finalize your essay before its upcoming submission. The list of questions contained here is not exhaustive, so please also review the Essay Three Assignment page and the grading rubric to ensure you are meeting all aspects of the essay assignment. If you choose to submit this assignment, you do not need to answer these questions using complete sentences. While you may receive up to three bonus points for your completion and timely submission of this assignment (added to your final grade for Essay Three), please note that this assignment must be submitted before you submit your final draft of Essay Three. Considerations re: the thesis statement and topic sentences for the body paragraphs: 1. Does the thesis reference the authors' specific purposes? Remember, you should have noted each author's specific purpose earlier in the introduction paragraph, so just referencing that the use of the noted tools and appeals helps the authors achieve their specific purposes will suffice. 2. Does the thesis indicate your "Pro" article's chosen rhetorical tool(s) and rhetorical appeal AND your "Con" article's chosen rhetorical tool(s) and rhetorical appeal? 3. Is your thesis statement in the correct place in the introduction paragraph? 4. Is the thesis statement only one sentence in length? 5. Are the thesis points (your "Pro" article's chosen rhetorical tool(s) and rhetorical appeal AND your "Con" article's chosen rhetorical tool(s) and rhetorical appeal) discussed in the same order as they are listed in the thesis, and are they written in a parallel manner? 6. Are your chosen rhetorical tools and rhetorical appeals in compliance with the assignment? See the list of rhetorical tools and rhetorical appeals from which you may choose on the "Essay Three Assignment" page. 7. For each Summary ¶, does the topic sentence reference the author and establish his/her main claim? 8. Does each topic sentence for the Rhetorical Tools and Rhetorical Appeals ¶s “match” the thesis listing? 9. Does each topic sentence for the Rhetorical Tools and Rhetorical Appeals ¶s also note the author’s specific purpose? Please see the page entitled, "Essay Three Model Body Paragraphs and Works Cited page," if you need clarification on how the thesis statement and topic sentences should be written. Considerations re: the title and the Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs: 1. Does the title accurately and interestingly reflect the essay’s content? Remember to include a descriptive title rather than, Essay Three, for instance. 2. Does the introduction paragraph engage and focus the reader’s attention on the issue being debated by your chosen "Pro" and "Con" articles? 3. Does the introduction paragraph also include the brief use of an acceptable, secondary outside source that meets the assignment's given guidelines? Please make sure to review the "Essay Three Assignment" page and its noted guidelines for an acceptable secondary source. 4. Do you note an appropriate specific purpose for each author in the introduction paragraph? Reference question #4 on the Brainstorm worksheet to ensure acceptability. 5. Does the introduction paragraph remain concise and conclude with the thesis statement? 6. Do you note the full title of the "Pro" article and the full title of the "Con" article in either the introduction paragraph OR in the article's summary paragraph? Remember to only note each article's title in full once. 7. Do you note each author's full name the first time that you mention him or her in your essay and then only use his or her last name throughout the rest of the essay? Remember that titles, such as Dr. or Professor, should only be used the first time you mention his or her full name, as well. 8. Does the conclusion paragraph reiterate (not repeat) the thesis? 9. Does the conclusion paragraph note and explain which article more successfully achieves its specific purpose? 10. Does the conclusion paragraph remain concise? Remember that your introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be the shortest paragraphs in your essay. Considerations for the Summary paragraphs: 1. In each summary ¶, is your chosen "Pro" or "Con" article objectively and briefly summarized in chronological order? 2. Do you rely primarily on paraphrases (i.e., use your own words) instead of direct quotations? 3. Do you reference the author throughout the ¶ (by including signal phrases)? 4. Do you clearly and effectively conclude the ¶? 5. Are in-text citations included throughout the ¶? 6. Do you have a separate summary ¶ only for the "Pro" article? 7. Do you have a separate summary ¶ only for the "Con" article? Considerations for the Rhetorical Tools and Rhetorical Appeals body paragraphs: 1. Do you include sufficient, relevant evidence to show the author’s use of the rhetorical tool or appeal? 2. Do you clarify throughout each ¶ how the author's use of the tool or appeal helps the author fulfill his/her specific purpose? Please make sure that you are not losing sight of this objective. 3. Do you clearly and effectively conclude each ¶? 4. Are in-text citations included for direct quotations, paraphrases, and/or summaries throughout the ¶s? 5. Are these ¶s well developed and of roughly equal length (remember that these should be your longest paragraphs)? If they are not, then you need to revise your work, as needed, to meet this objective. Considerations re: your use of evidence: 1. Do you properly integrate your three acceptable sources into the essay? 2. Do you cite all three sources accurately and include proper in-text citations? 3. Do you have any “dropped quotations” or any quotations extending more than four, full, typed lines? If so, these need to be addressed. 4. Do you use signal phrases to introduce quotations? 5. Do you include an acceptable secondary source (per the assignment page's guidelines) only in the Introduction ¶? Considerations re: overall Coherence: 1. Does your essay flow clearly and smoothly? 2. Do any spots seem choppy or awkward? If they do, then make the necessary revisions to ensure your ideas read in a fluid, logical manner and in alignment with the essay assignment's specifications. 3. Are transitions used effectively? Considerations re: MLA formatting: 1. Is the correct header on each page? 2. Does your heading include the correct information, and is it properly spaced? 3. Is your title centered, but not underlined, italicized, or in quotation marks? 4. Are your margins correct? 5. Is your essay properly spaced throughout? 6. Is the proper font used throughout (check your header, too)? 7. On your Works Cited page, are your sources listed alphabetically? 8. On your Works Cited page, are all three of the entries double-spaced and properly indented? 9. On your Works Cited page, does each entry include all required information in the correct order and with the proper punctuation? 10. With the correct MLA formatting in place, is your essay at least four full pages in length (not counting the Works Cited page)? Word Choice/Sentences: 1. Have awkward phrases/sentences been eliminated? 2. Are sentences concise, or do they include wordiness and/or repetition? 3. Are sentences varied re: length, structure, and openings? 4. Should any sentences be deleted or moved? 5. Do all words accurately express your ideas? Are any changes needed? 6. Do you use specific words and avoid clichés, slang, and vague pronouns? 7. Are transitional words and phrases used throughout your essay? 8. Do you avoid using general words (such as "thing") and filler words (such as "very")? Grammar/Punctuation: 1. Do all verbs agree with their subjects? 2. Are all verb tenses accurate/consistent? Are unnecessary shifts in tense avoided? 3. When referencing your chosen "Pro" or "Con" article, do you only use present tense verbs? 4. Are there sentence fragments, run-ons, or comma splices that need correction? 5. Do pronouns clearly refer to and agree with their antecedents? 6. Do you refer to the author by only his or her last name (after you've included his or her full name the first time in your essay)? 7. Do you only list the full title of the "Pro" article and then the full title of the "Con" article one time in your essay (either in your Introduction ¶ or Summary ¶)? 8. Are commas used when necessary? 9. Do you only use 3rd person voice (unless in a direct quote from your article)? 10. Are all contractions written out in full? 11. Have you proofread for errors in spelling/capitalization? 12. Have you checked carefully to eliminate typing errors?