Research paper checklist

Name______________________________

J.A. Jones

MLA RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST

Title Page
_____1. Heading centered , one-third down page
_____2. Name centered, 2 dbl. spaces down
_____3. Course #, Prof's name, date centered
_____4. Double-spaced

Page One: Mechanics

_____1. Title centered

_____2. Title 2 spaces below name & page

_____3. Title not in caps, underlined, or quoted

_____4. Double–spaced between title & first line

_____5. Name and page number in rt. corner

1" from top, throughout paper

Body:Structure and Content

_____1. Appropriate reader-based introduction

_____2. Clear statement of thesis

_____3. Logical organization

_____4. Correct paragraphing

_____5. Smooth, logical transitions used in paragraphing

_____6. Development of topics with examples/explanations

_____7. Short quotes used in context

_____8. Enough short quotes used

_____9. Long quotes used in context
_____10. Good conclusion

Body: Documentation

_____1. Quotation marks for quotes

_____2. Parentheses for documentation

_____3. Author’s last name, no comma before page in ( )

_____4. Punctuation after closed parentheses

_____5. Long quotes indented, left only

_____6. Long quotes double-spaced

_____7. Long quotes, no quotation marks

_____8. Complete information

_____9. All in-text citations match Works Cited List

Body: Mechanics
_____1. Margins correct
_____2. No sentence fragments
_____3. Punctuation correct
_____4. Spelling
_____5. Capitalization correct
_____6. No contractions
_____7. No vague references
_____8. Pronoun/antecedent agreement correct
_____9. No unnecessary shifts of verb tense
_____10. Correct subject/verb agreement
_____11. Correct prepositions
_____12. Formal: no “you”, limited or no use of “I”
_____13. Double-spaced
_____14. Typed/word processed

Works Cited Page
_____1. Title: Works Cited
_____2. Title of page 1” from top
_____3. Title correctly capitalized, not underlined or quoted
_____4. Double-spaced throughout
_____5. No extra spaces between entries
_____6. First line of entry at margin
_____7. Following lines of entry indented
_____8. Entries not numbered
_____9. Entries correctly alphabetized
_____10. Correct entry of work(s) by same author
_____11. Correct entry of no-author work
_____12. Titles of books, periodicals underlined/italicized
_____13. Titles of short works and articles quoted
_____14. Correct use of ed(s). and Ed(s).
_____15. Volume number given if applicable
_____16. Inclusive page numbers given for short works
_____17. URL given for internet work
_____18. Date information was posted included
_____19. Date information was accessed right before URL
_____20. Complete information
_____21. Items in correct order within entry
_____22. Everything on Works Cited List is cited in the essay

+ well done

/ adequately done

-- inadequately done

0 not done

NA not applicable

GRADE:

Content __________

Mechanics ________

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