Expository Essay Checklist
Organization:
 Do you have four clear indented paragraphs?
Introduction:
 If your introduction has multiple sentences, is your thesis the last sentence?
 Does your thesis have your two topics listed?
 Is your thesis clear and easy to understand, and grammatically correct?
Body Paragraphs:
 Do you have a general topic sentence? You should not name your example in your topic
sentence.
 Did you choose a specific example to support the topic of that paragraph?
 Do your example details point to the importance of friendship?
 Reread your analysis. Did you explain WHY friendship is important?
 You should start by explaining the specific example and then connect it to a more universal idea
of friendship. Did you do this?
 Does your body paragraph come to a conclusion instead of stopping suddenly? (transition)
Conclusion:
 Do you have at least one sentence that wraps up your final thoughts? You must readdress the
two topics in your thesis without repeating verbatim your original thesis.
Expository Essay Checklist
Organization:
 Do you have four clear indented paragraphs?
Introduction:
 If your introduction has multiple sentences, is your thesis the last sentence?
 Does your thesis have your two topics listed?
 Is your thesis clear and easy to understand, and grammatically correct?
Body Paragraphs:
 Do you have a general topic sentence? You should not name your example in your topic
sentence.
 Did you choose a specific example to support the topic of that paragraph?
 Do your example details point to the importance of friendship?
 Reread your analysis. Did you explain WHY friendship is important?
 You should start by explaining the specific example and then connect it to a more universal idea
of friendship. Did you do this?
 Does your body paragraph come to a conclusion instead of stopping suddenly? (transition)
Conclusion:
 Do you have at least one sentence that wraps up your final thoughts? You must readdress the
two topics in your thesis without repeating verbatim your original thesis.