Self-Evaluation of Your Three-Storey Thesis

Taking Measure

Each question requires a “Yes” or “No” answer. For each “Yes” response, give yourself one point. Your final score will be mark out of twenty-three (ex: Twenty-one “Yes” responses = 21/23).

 

Components

 

Did you identify a specific audience? (Who? Where? When?)

Y/N

Did you identify two specific pieces of evidence?

Y/N

Did you identify a central aspect or element?

Y/N

Did you make YOUR claim about the AUTHOR’S purpose? Is it a statement with which one could agree or disagree?

Y/N

Is there a unique third storey that concludes your thesis? Is it different than the second storey?

Y/N

Are each of your three storeys roughly equal in length?

Y/N

 

First Storey: Evidence/Observations

 

Is the first piece of evidence something you can literally point to the text?

Y/N

Is the second piece of evidence something you can literally point to the text?

Y/N

Does each of piece of evidence add something new? Are they different from each other?

Y/N

Is your evidence rich in connotative value? Do the words potentially have multiple meanings?

Y/N

 

Second Storey: Argument

 

Have you focused on the AUTHOR’S argument? You should not be voicing your opinion on the author’s topic.

Y/N

Does your proposed analysis of the author’s argument follow from the evidence provided?

Y/N

Is your proposed analysis complex? Does it take you more than half a sentence to describe it?

Y/N

Does your proposed analysis of the author’s argument utilize strong and precise language?

Y/N

 

Third Storey: A Full Complex Argument

 

Does your third storey follow logically from the second storey?

Y/N

Does your third storey clarify the second storey by adding something new?

Y/N

Does your third storey consider the results and consequences of the sort of analysis proposed in the second storey?

Y/N

Does your third storey use keywords or phrases from the text to add something new to the second storey?

Y/N

Is your third storey still focused on the author’s complex argument? You want to be sure that you have not strayed into your own unanalytical discussion of the author’s subject.

Y/N

 

Style

 

Did you use strong verbs throughout your thesis?

Y/N

Did the level of language reflect the tone of the author’s argument?

Y/N

Did you avoid the use of first-person pronouns? (“I,” “we,” “us,” “our,” etc.)

Y/N

Did you avoid words from the Ctrl-F list? (“society,” “technology,” “people,” etc.)

Y/N