Prof. Sarma's (aka Durvasa's) paper-writing checklist

Prof. Sarma's (aka Durvasa's) paper-writing checklist

1. Did you make an outline of your paper before writing it?

2. Do you have a thesis statement (i.e. an argument)? And a lucid introduction?

3. Does each paragraph deal with a single idea?

4. Do you have a conclusion?

5. Are you presenting evidence to back up your claims?

6. Is the evidence from credible sources that have been vetted (i.e. published in university presses or journals that are published in university or other credible presses)?

7. Are you quoting when you should be paraphrasing?

8. Are you paraphrasing (and not citing) when you should be quoting?

9. Are you using the word “truly”? (Do not!)

10. Are you using “says” or “talks about” when you mean “states” or “argues”?

11. Are you using “we” instead of the preferable “I”?

12. Do you know the meaning of all the words in your paper?

13. Can you eliminate any useless adverbs and adjectives? and make your paper less verbose/ more streamlined?

14. Do you have any superficial or vapid generalizations?

15. Are you using an active, rather than a passive, voice?

16. Are your footnote citations complete?

17. Do you have specific page numbers for your citations (and not ranges)?

18. Are you using Ibid when needed?

19. Are you using Chicago style? (Not their parenthetical citations option)

20. Do you have a bibliography?

21. Can someone not enrolled in the class (or even the University) understand your argument?

22. Have you read your paper aloud to yourself or to an audience?

23. Do you have a proofreader?