Inside the mind of Kline

Here's what I ask myself every time I finish reading one of your essays: 

Is it a story?

Does it have a clear beginning, middle, and end (not necessarily in that order)?

Does it deepen the reader’s understanding of the subject?

Is it well organized?

Do the events come in the best order?

Are the transitions between ideas smooth and logical?

Is the opening precise, specific, and engaging? Is it the intro that only this author can write?

Are paragraphs fully developed (with appropriate details or adequate examples)?

Does the closing effectively emphasize, elaborate, or illuminate the main ideas of the story?

Is the language interesting?

Does the writer make precise, powerful diction choices?

Does the writer employ rhetorical strategies that engage the reader and emphasize the purpose?

Are appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos balance, effective, and appropriate for audience and purpose?

Does the writer include a sufficient amount of showing?

Does the writer take risks?

Does this look like a college paper?

Does it follow MLA format?

Does it display a college-level control of spelling, grammar, and punctuation?

Did the writer meet the requirements of the assignment, including the nit-picky details?