Fifteen Point Plan for a Brilliant Research Essay

 We're going to do this together as a class today...

1.    Make sure you fact-check, use reliable sources.

2.    Make sure that you proofread.

3.    Break up long paragraphs.

4.    Ask other people/editors what they think.

5.    Give it a real title, make it meaningful.

6.    Take notes, compile "best-of" passages.

7.    Logical argument is best, clarity!

8.    Argument isn't obvious.

9.    Use specific and concrete details and examples. Use statistics and quantitative data, tables, graphs. 

10.   Does your conclusion match your introduction.

11.   Do I (the writer) like my essay? Having fun?

12.    Always acknowledge the other side.

13.    Ask rhetorical questions?

14.    Don't use fancy words to show off.

15.   Double-check your MLA format.