Evaluating your work

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One way of finding out about your writing is to "judge" it yourself. This is called self-assessment or self-evaluation. The best time to do an evaluation is before you hand the essay in. Here is an example of a check sheet:

1. Check yourself

• Check your assignment to see where your marks came from.

2. The topic

• Does your title match the title given? yes/ no/ partly
• Does the rest of the essay keep to the topic? all the time/ mostly

3. The overall expression and shape

• Can you read your essay aloud and understand it? yes/ no
• Does your essay follow a clear pattern? yes/ no

4.  The introduction

• Is there an argument thesis statement? yes/ no
• Have you stated any reasons? yes/ no
• Have you announced the essay pattern? yes/ no

5. The body

• Which pattern did you follow? parallel? linear?
• How many arguments did you make? …….
• How many counter arguments? …….
• How many times did you refute these? …….

6. The conclusion

• Did you summarise the points briefly? yes/ no
• Did you vary the words slightly? yes/ no
• Is the thesis statement reframed? yes/ no

For further advice, see Chapter 8 of Study Skills for Speakers of English as a Second Language, by Marilyn Lewis and Hayo Reinders.