What Professors Look For In Your College Papers
Different professors can look for different things from your writing. However, if you want to cover most bases, this list should prove a good reference to what instructors are likely to focus on:
- Purpose. Is there a clear purpose to your paper? Are your ideas directed at a common goal? An uncertain purpose is the surest way to half-hearted discussions later on in the body of the paper.
- Organization and structure. Are your ideas organized in a logical manner that allows you to build up an effective argument? Do you have your strongest points at areas where they can make the most impact?
- Transitions. Does the audience feel like they know what’s going on the whole time? While suspense and surprise can be effective literary devices, they’re usually unsuccessful when employed for academic papers. Readers want to know where they’re going the whole time – make sure they do.
- Critical thinking. Are your ideas original? Are your interpretations valid? How deep have you delved into the subject?
- Supporting ideas. Your supporting ideas should be strong enough to hold up the premises set by your main argument. Will the audience leave convinced?
- Writing mechanics. How well-written is your paper? Did you even run it through a good grammar software? Even the best ideas will falter when beset by faulty writing.