1. What's the most important thing I want to say about my subject?
2. Who am I writing this paper for? What would my reader want to know about this subject? What does my reader already know?
3. Why do I think the subject is worth writing about? Will my reader think the paper is worth reading?
4. What verb explains what I am trying to do in this paper (inform, persuade, entertain, compare, describe)?
5. Does my introductory paragraph answer 1-4? (If not, rework or have a good reason.)

1. How many specific points do I make about my subject? Did I overlap or repeat any points? Did I leave out any important points or add some ideas that aren't relevant to the argument I'm trying to construct?
2. How many paragraphs did I use to write about each point?
3. Why did I write about them in this order? Should the order be changed?
4. How did I get from one point to the next? Does the argument build logically? What signposts did I give the reader? Did I write an "essay map" to help the reader follow the logic of my argument?

1. What job does this paragraph perform? How does it relate to the paragraph before and after it?
2. What's the topic idea of this paragraph? Will my reader have trouble finding it? How does this topic relate to the argument I am attempting to construct?
3. How many sentences did it take to develop the topic? Can I substitute (or add) better examples, reasons, or details?
4. How well does the paragraph hold together? Are the sentences of various lengths and types? Do I need transitions? When I read the paragraph out loud, does it flow smoothly and make sense?

Sentences (Ask these questions of every sentence)


1. Can my reader "see" what I am saying? Are the words I use specific and concrete enough that my reader can visualize the points I am trying to make? What words could I substitute for generalities such as: people, things, this/that, aspect, etc.?
2. Is this sentence "fat"? Check the sheet on concision then cut, cut, cut.
3. Can I combine this sentence with another to eliminate the wordiness of many short, choppy sentences or to make me more able to express complex thoughts?
4. Can I find a more specific noun or a more lively verb? (Strong, concrete nouns and verbs help build more "muscular" concise writing, stronger arguments.)
5. Am I using words that are a natural part of my vocabulary? Do I understanding the meanings of the words I am using and have I looked up new words I'm uncertain about?

1. Did I check spelling and punctuation? What kinds of words do I usually misspell? What kinds of punctuation problems did I have in my last paper?
2. How does my paper end? Do I fulfill the contract I have made with the reader in the first paragraph?
3. When I reread the assignment, did I miss anything?
4. What do I like best about the paper? What do I need to work on next?

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