Academic Writing Lessons: Analysis Essay Rubric
When you are tasked with an analysis essay, one of the best things you can have at your side is the analysis essay rubric. This rubric is what teachers give you so that you know what is expected of you in order to get a particular grade. If you have a rubric by your side, you can check each item line by line as you write to make sure you get the grade you want.
The first thing you want to do is find your topic, if you were not assigned one. Then you need to start to develop a thesis statement. This is the foundation of any good paper and you must do it before you move on.
- The thesis is just as important as having a coherent argument. The thesis is the place wherein your argument or stance is identified. It is where you present the main topic or question your paper will cover. You can try forming a thesis by taking the main question that you were asked as part of the assignment details, or the main topic assignment and rewording it into one sentence. This one sentence is what you need to address, and having it will give you the start of your thesis.
- Next, you must make sure that you cover all of the areas of an essay. This means you have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. So many students forget about this as they are striving to reach their page limit or their word count. And on that note, if your paper says “5 pages” it means five full pages, not four full pages and one sentence on the fifth page. You need to ensure that your paper has all of the necessary components to be well rounded. You want to deal with your assignment thoroughly. Make sure you introduce your topic, discuss the topic, and outline the rest of the essay in your introduction. Make sure your body has the core discussion of your topic including the research, the arguments, and the supporting examples or statistical evidence. The conclusion needs to be more than two lines. You need to make sure the conclusion is well rounded, and reminds the reader of your arguments in light of the new evidence that you presented. Do not submit a two sentence conclusion just because you reached your word limit. Your professor will know that something is missing.