Use the following as a guide when writing answers to discussion questions and as a checklist after you have written your answer.

Do I really understand what the question asks me to do?

Have I done any preliminary planning of my major points?

From reading the first sentence of my answer, does the reader know both what the question is and how I will develop my answer?

Do the major points stand out?

Are the major points supported with examples and facts?

Are there clear transitions between the major points?

Would someone who has not taken this class be able to understand the concept discussed in the way I explained it?

Have I completely covered all major points needed to answer the question?

Did I stick to the question?

Have I concluded with a summary statement?

Did I proofread for misspelled words, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices, subject-verb or pronoun/antecedent agreement errors, and other errors that might prevent the reader from understanding what I have written?

Is my handwriting readable, and have I left enough space for comments or additions?