Part of the writing and research process often involves reviewing the work of other writers to comprehend strategies for content development, organization, and analysis. When reviewing a sample essay, a writer should never base how they create their own work on the sample or attempt to copy it in form and/or content. Instead, reading a sample essay can be a beneficial process for a writer to consider how to open the essay discussion, structure the content, approach critical analysis of a text, and integrate research perspectives into the conversation.

Here are a few questions to consider when reading a sample essay:

1. Does the writer offer a convincing, concise, and clear claim to guide the research? How?
2. In what way(s) are the arguments within the essay supported by evidence from the text(s)?
3. What techniques and strategies for writing persuasively can you identify?
4. How effective is research (secondary source material) utilized to develop content and analysis?
5. What tone does the writer establish in the essay content? Is it consistent?
6. Can you recognize a distinct voice of the writer or has the research taken over their argument?
7. Does the conclusion do more than just summarize/restate the initial thesis and essay content?
8. Are there strengths and weaknesses in the organization/formatting? List them.
9. Is the word choice appropriate for the essay and its intended audience?
10. Overall, how well does the essay respond to the assignment prompt and guidelines?

These types of questions represent related inquiries we may ask when writing an essay draft and throughout the revision and editing process. By performing evaluative checks on sample writing, a writer learns how to apply a similar review of their essay to strengthen its form and/or content. Furthermore, this activity connects us to our own work by focusing our attention on which writing and research strategies to employ in order to create an effective, credible, and authoritative essay. Additionally, keep the lines of communication open with your instructor to always discuss how they intend for you to engage with sample writing materials in the course.

Sample Prompt

Assignment Description: The purpose of this essay is to effectively communicate a persuasive argument based on research and analysis of primary and secondary texts. For this assignment, you will engage in secondary research and close reading of a primary text to develop an original, nuanced argument about one of the play’s we’ve read this semester.

Content: Strong essays will utilize close reading techniques, including attention to dramatic elements, meter, rhyming, double meanings of words, and other rhetorical/poetic features. Furthermore, they will put forth a clear, interesting, and unique interpretation of the text in question. Weak essays will not utilize or discuss the text; rather, they may quote but only to summarize. Weak essays also tend to simply summarize the plot or give surface readings of a passage, character, or theme. Additionally, because this is a research-based literary essay, strong essays will include thoughtful engagement with secondary sources. Weak essays will not utilize or discuss the secondary sources; they might include quotations from secondary sources but only to echo the argument the essay-writer is attempting to make. For more details about the use of secondary sources, see the following section.

Research Expectations: At least three scholarly sources will be incorporated to aid in the development of your argument. Supplemental sources, such as the Oxford English Dictionary or a reference to another text we have read are encouraged but not required. The research may support your claim, offer counterargument, and/or provide contextual discussion such as the film’s production history or socio-cultural response to the film. The essay will be guided by the writer’s voice (your claim), not the research material.

Format: Follow MLA 9 guidelines.

Scope: Essays should range between 1500 and 2000 words. (Works Cited required to document the primary text and any secondary sources, but not included in word count).

[table id=5 /]