-Is your topic and thesis statement (an arguable claim or opinion) presented in

-Is your topic and thesis statement (an arguable claim or opinion) presented in the first 1-2 pages?
-Do you include historical context/background information that allows your reader to understand your topic & argument?
-Are you including 3-4 sub-topics or arguments to back up your claim or strengthen your argument?
-What are the controversies or opposing points of view about your topic and your claim? Do you address or include any?
-Are you including quotes, paraphrases, summaries, or references to your sources? Are you citing them in-text and in a works cited page?
-Remember that your works cited page does not count toward your page count! You should have 6-7 pages of text. Push for a complete a draft!
-You should have at least five (5) sources, and at least two (2) of your sources must be scholarly/peer reviewed sources. The other three (or more!) may be popular/non-scholarly sources.