Pre-Submission Checklist for Essays
You can use the following list to check that your essay meets the minimum requirements for your course. I will deduct a minimum of 1/3 of a letter grade from essays that do not meet applicable standards set out here; in serious cases I reserve the right to assign a greater penalty. Most of the points mentioned here are discussed in greater detail below. If you do not understand what a particular standard means, you should consult the MLA Handbook, Chicago Manual of Style, relevant sections of this web-site, or come and see me.
Layout and basic structure
My essay
- has a bibliography/works cited page
- uses a 12 point Roman-style font
- is double spaced throughout
- has margins of between 3cm and 4cm (1.25”-1.5”) on every page
- has page numbers on all pages except the title page
- does not count the title page in the page numbering.
- does not have my name anywhere in the main body or in the headers or footers
- and if hardcopy submission is required:
- has a title page (Do not use a title page for papers submitted electronically)
- is printed on one side of the page only
Quotations
My quotations from other texts
- are in-line or offset [i.e. “block”] as appropriate (See the MLA Handbook or Chicago Manual of Style for detailed instructions)
- reproduce the text you are quoting accurately
- are accompanied by a correct and complete citation of source (See the MLA Handbook or Chicago Manual of Style for detailed instructions).
Documentation
I have
- ensured that the sources of all ideas and information that is not the direct product of my own research with the primary sources are documented. This includes quotations, paraphrases, and passages in my own words where I am using information, ideas, or opinions I learned from somebody else.
- ensured that my documentation style conforms to the guidelines in the MLA Handbook or Chicago Manual of Style.
Proof-Reading
I have
- double-checked my essay for spelling mistakes, missing words, incomplete or problematic sentences and punctuation errors;
- triple-checked all quotations and paraphrases for accuracy;
- checked my essay for layout errors.
