RESEARCH PAPER SELF-REVIEW

Please complete one of the two options for this self-check. Consider this a strong hint about issues that will be penalized during the grading process.

There are two options for this self-check:

The educational problem/solution topic
The history retold topic

Note: can can download an MS Word version of this document if you wish.

EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM TOPIC

Title

Is your title specific to your unique topic? In other words, does it avoid a generic label like “Research Paper,” “Educational Problem,” etc.?
Is the title centered using the center command instead of tabs or the space bar?
Did you refrain from increasing the font size or using italics, bold or underline to mark your own title?

Introduction

Does your first sentence hook the reader and identify the specific issue beyond “there are problems in education”? In other words, will a reader understand from the first sentence what specific concern about education you have?
Does your introduction set up the core problem briefly but clearly?
Does the introduction avoid going into heavily detailed discussion of a specific individual point that would be better saved for a body paragraph?
Do you list the major points you plan to make in the introduction?
Do you have a clear thesis statement that offers a specific solution (rather than “A solution is needed” statement) that defines what you are arguing for at the end of the paragraph?

Body paragrapha

Does the paragraph start with a tab/indention of 0.5”?
Does each body paragraph start with a clear transition that provides a connection to the previous paragraph?
Does the first sentence set up a clear topic for the paragraph?
Does each major point and supporting evidence relate to that topic sentence, or should some be removed?
If the paragraph is too short (less than four lines), what facts or further explanations can you add to properly develop the topic of the paragraph?
Do you have enough research (either in the form of paraphrased ideas, facts/statistics, or quotations) that support the topic sentence?
If the paragraph goes on for a page of more (which may be acceptable), could you divide it into subparagraphs?
Does the paragraph end with a clear point that does NOT introduce a new idea that is actually in the next paragraph? If you do introduce a new idea that is actually the topic of the next paragraph, move that line to the next paragraph.
Is there a clear connection to your overall thesis for the paper?

Use of Research, Quotations, and Citations

Does each body paragraph include information you found during your research?
REGULAR QUOTES: Does each quotation have a signal phrase, the actual words you are quoting inside quotation marks, an MLA parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence that allows the reader to find the source in your alphabetical works cited, and discussion? Did you drop the final punctuation of the quotation (unless it’s a question or exclamation mark)? Is the citation before the final period of the sentence?
BLOCK QUOTE: Do you have at least one block quote? Is it indented 0.5” from the left? Is it four lines (in the 1” margins) or longer? Did you avoid indenting the first line of your text after the block quote in which you discuss the block quote’s meaning? Did you omit quotation marks for your block quote? Does the block quote citation come after the final punctuation of the quotation
Are facts/ideas/statistics that you did not know prior to your research given a citation even if they are not quotations?
Do you avoid putting a quotation in the first or last sentence of a paragraph?

Conclusion

Did you avoid starting your conclusion with “In conclusion”?
Does your conclusion restate the educational problem, all your major points, and then offer your proposed solution?
Does your conclusion attempt to explain the broader implications of your solution and how it benefits someone?

Works Cited Page

Does your MLA works cited page start at the top of its own page using the insertpage break command in MS Word?
Do the words “Works Cited” (without the quotation marks) appear at the top of the page centered using the center command?
Is each entry presented alphabetically (do not alphabetize by the words “A,” “An,” or “The”)?
Are the titles of shorter items (articles, individual pages on a web site, etc.) put inside quotation marks?
Are the titles of larger items (books, newspapers, databases, web sites, journals, etc.) italicized?
Did you standardize all capitalization following MLA title rules?
Did you include database information for articles found using the library databases?
Did you follow the different styles of citations for books, journal articles, newspapers, etc.?
Did you use the hanging indent command to format each citation so that the first line touches the left margin, but the rest of the lines in the citation are indented 0.5”?
Did you turn off the gap between paragraphs on the works cited page?
Is each citation double spaced?
Does the works cited page look like the sample MLA Works Cited Page?

Format

Does your paper’s layout match the sample MLA paper?
Is your paper double spaced?
Are the margins 1” on each side?
Did you turn off the gap between paragraphs throughout?
In the header of your paper, does your last name appear in the upper right corner followed by a single space and the page number (using the insert page number command)?
Did you use Times New Roman 12 pt font? Even in the header?
Does your information block contain the right information required by MLA format? Is the date correct? Did you replace “Professor” with “Dr.”? Did you put a space between “Dr.” and the professor’s name?

Word Choice/Editing

Did you read your paper out loud to listen for problematic or incomplete sentences?
Did you avoid “I” statements that are not about direct experiences being used as evidence (like “I think/believe/feel”)? (Use control-F to check for “I” followed by a space)
Did you avoid “You” statements? (Use control-F to check for “you”)
Did you find more specific language to replace variations on the word “thing”? (Use control-F to search for “thing”)
Did you verify that the reader can easily understand what “it” refers to in the paper? (Use control-F to search for “it”)
Did you put a noun or noun phrase after the word “this”? (Use control-F to search for “this”).

HISTORY RETOLD TOPIC