Name________________________ Date__________________ Period_____________
Critical Lens Essay Checklist
Directions: Be sure to circle what you have completed. Go back to the essay to revise
and improve on any area whereby you circled “no.”
Introduction
1. Begin by rewriting the critical lens statement?
Yes
No
2. Include an explanation of the critical lens statement?
Yes
No
3. Do you clearly imply whether or not you agree or
disagree with the critical lens statement?
Yes
No
4. Did you mention the titles and authors of the literary works?
Yes
No
5. Did you underline the title of a novel and “quote” the title
of a short story?
Yes
No
6. Did you include a thesis statement that connects the two
works specifically in relation to the lens?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
a. directly prove the topic sentence (not a plot summary)? Yes
No
Body Paragraph(s) 1 (Literary Work #1)
1. Do you begin with a topic sentence that
a. connects and is more specific than the thesis
statement?
b. clearly introduces the main idea of the paragraph?
c. uses the diction of the critical lens quotation to
establish appropriate focus?
2. Includes supporting details that
b. make explicit reference to at least three significant
literary elements and explain how they influence
the theme/connection to critical lens?
Yes
No
c. flow with the use of transitions?
Yes
No
3. Did you conclude the body paragraph with a clincher
statement that refers back to the critical lens, brings
closure to the paragraph, and leads into the next?
Yes
No
a. connects and is more specific than the thesis
statement?
Yes
No
b. clearly introduces the main idea of the paragraph?
Yes
No
c. uses the diction of the critical lens quotation to
establish appropriate focus?
Yes
No
d. includes a transitional word?
Yes
No
a. directly prove the topic sentence (not a plot summary)? Yes
No
b. make explicit reference to at least three significant
literary elements and explain how they influence
the theme/connection to critical lens?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
1. Do you begin with a restatement of the thesis?
Yes
No
2. Did you summarize the main points of the body
paragraphs through a sophisticated comparison/
contrast of the texts?
Yes
No
3. Do you close with an interesting and opinionated
thought that connects to real life and explains “why
does it matter?”
Yes
No
Body Paragraph(s) 2 (Literary Work #2)
1. Do you begin with a topic sentence that
2. Includes supporting details that
c. flow with the use of transitions?
3. Did you conclude the body paragraph with a clincher
statement that refers back to the critical lens, brings
closure to the paragraph, and leads into the next?
Conclusion