Checklist for AOB

Structure and key features: Does this AOB have…. Yes No

The cover sheet fully completed?
The essay question at the top of the page?
An introduction?
A position/thesis statement?
Three sources that are clearly marked and separated from each
other on separate pages with their full reference (APA or
Harvard) at the start of their section?
Does the writer have an in-text reference with the date for the
source in their paragraph?
Clear paragraphs?
A topic sentence that is clear for each paragraph?
A logical progression from summarising the source to then
evaluating it and explaining its relevance to the essay?
Linking devices/connectors?
In-text references with the date?
1.5mm or double spacing?
Page numbers?
Size font 12 and in either Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri or
Cambria?

Does this AOB have the following mistakes….? Yes No

Starting a sentence with ‘But’, ‘And’, ‘Because’, ‘So’ or ‘Also’?
Contractions – ‘don’t’ ‘it’s’ etc?
Use of personal language and pronouns?
Sentences that don’t make sense or need more explanation or
clarity?
Informal or overused expressions such as:
More and more?
Pay attention to?
With the development of…?
Take… for example…?
Phenomenon?
Hot or the hottest or heated?
As a matter of fact/ Actually / Last but not least /Besides?
Cliches such as ‘double edged-sword’ or ‘the coin has two sides’?
Grammar issues such as….
Use of the incorrect tense?
Subject-verb-agreement issues where the verb does not match
the noun?
Uncountable nouns used incorrectly such as ‘researches’ or
‘works’ or ‘vocabularies’ ?– these words don’t exist in English.
Too many singular nouns when they should be plural if talking
 about something in general?
References issues such as…
An in-text reference with no date or missing page number if a
direct quote?
An in-text reference with the wrong names or missing names?
Issues with either punctuation or spacing?
Overuse of quotation and not enough paraphrasing?
Any examples of plagiarism or poor paraphrasing?

Summarising the source Yes No

Has the writer clearly stated what type of source each source is?
If they have used a journal have they mentioned the focus of the
study and the key findings?
Has the writer summarized each source and avoided direct
quotation?
Has the writer said why each source is useful for their essay?
Evaluation of the source:
Can you see any signs that the writer is evaluating the source?
Write examples here that you notice:

Does the writer mention any limitations?

Write examples here that you notice:

Other:
Do you think this work has been spell-checked and run through
Grammarly.com?
Does the writer use cautious language? (hedging)
Have they proof-read their work at least 2 times?
Have they asked a friend to proof-read their work?
Have they definitely applied all the error correction their teacher
has given them?

Checklist for Essay

Does this essay have….? Yes No

The cover sheet fully completed?
The essay title at the top of the page?
An introduction?
A position/thesis statement?
A definition/definitions of key terms?
Clear paragraphs?
A topic sentence that is clear for each paragraph?
Linking devices/connectors?
In-text references with the date?
1.5mm or double spacing?
A conclusion?
A full reference list following APA or Harvard style?
Page numbers?

Does this essay have the following mistakes….? Yes No

Starting a sentence with ‘But’, ‘And’, ‘Because’, ‘So’ or ‘Also’?
Contractions – ‘don’t’ ‘it’s’ etc?
Use of personal language and pronouns?
Sentences that don’t make sense or need more explanation or
clarity?
Informal or overused expressions such as:
More and more?
Pay attention to?
With the development of…?
Take… for example…?
Phenomenon?
Hot or the hottest or heated?
As a matter of fact/ Actually / Last but not least /Besides?
Cliches such as ‘double edged-sword’ or ‘the coin has two sides’?
Grammar issues such as….
Use of the incorrect tense?
Subject-verb-agreement issues where the verb does not match
the noun?
Uncountable nouns used incorrectly such as ‘researches’ or
‘works’ or ‘vocabularies’? – these words don’t exist in English.
Too many singular nouns when they should be plural if talking
about something in general?
References issues such as…
An in-text reference with no date or missing page number if a
direct quote?
An in-text reference with the wrong names or missing names?
Issues with either punctuation or spacing?
Overuse of quotation and not enough paraphrasing?
Any examples of plagiarism or poor paraphrasing?

Evaluation: Yes No
Can you see any signs of synthesis (combining sources together)
and comparing and contrasting sources? Then providing further
detailed comment and reflection on what this reveals?
Can you see any signs that the writer is evaluating the sources?
 Write examples here that you notice:

Does the writer mention any limitations?

Write examples here that you notice:

Other:
Do you think this work has been spell-checked and run through
Grammarly.com?
Does the writer use cautious language? (hedging)

Checklist for Presentation

Slides: Does this presentation have? Yes No

The right number of slides according to the instructions?
A title page with a title, name and UCD number?
A contents page
A reference page
A logical structure as advised by the teacher?
Clear titles on each slide?
Some colour or professional images/diagrams but not too much?
Bullet points?
In-text references?
A balance of text – not too little, not too much?
Adequate spacing and punctuation?
Do you think this work has been spell checked and run through
Grammarly?
Do you think the slides address the task requirements?
If you wrote no – explain why:

Delivery: Yes No
Do you think this presenter has practiced enough?
Does this presenter read from their slides?
Did you notice any pronunciation issues?
If you wrote yes – what words?
Does this presenter stand confidently?
Does this presenter have positive body language – eye-contact,
hand movement, smile?
Is this presenter loud enough?
Is this presenter clear enough (and not speaking too fast)?
Is this presentation within the time limit?
Does the presenter mention the sources appropriately and
clearly?