1. Follow formatting and length guidelines.
2. Include a thesis statement that includes a judgment about one (only one) of the topics in the assignment description.
3. Write fully developed paragraphs that contain topic sentences, discussion, evidence, analysis, and summative comments. Avoid using long quotations as filler in place of discussion and analysis.
4. Make sure your topic sentences are judgments, and that they are related in some way to the overarching thesis statement.
5. Write effective introductions and conclusions.
6. Follow MLA formatting guidelines for in-text citations and the works cited page.
7. Effectively synthesize primary and secondary source materials into your essays with introductions/signal phrases.
8. Develop an effective writing style that employs active verbs, concise wording, and clearly articulated ideas. Avoid 2nd person, vague words (“things”), and shifts in perspective.
9. Follow standard written English rules for punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, and spelling.