· Does the topic sentence indicate the purpose of the paragraph? Does that purpose serve the overall idea or argument of the essay?
· Do all of the ideas in the paragraph relate to the topic sentence?
· Are any necessary ideas left out?
· Is the paragraph coherent? Are the sentences organised by a logical framework? Do the sentences focus on the topic? Do they link to previous sentences? Are the sentences in the most effective order?
· Are sentences connected to each other with easy, effective, and natural transitions? Is the paragraph linked to the preceding and following paragraphs?
· Is the paragraph adequately developed? Can the paragraph be broken down into smaller paragraphs for greater clarity? Can analysing the strategy used to develop the paragraph help to solve the problem?
· Does the closing sentence “clinch” what has been said in the paragraph? Does it provide a transition to the paragraph that follows?
· To Explain Causal Relations: because, then, thus, therefore, as a result, accordingly, if, so, otherwise, to this end, for this purpose, for this reason
· To Indicate Temporal Relationships: before, previously; now, simultaneously, (mean)while, during; after, then, next, later; finally, last
· To Indicate Spatial Relationships: above, around, below, beyond, beside, farther on, nearby, opposite to
· To Give Examples: for instance, for example, specifically, in fact, indeed, in particular, namely, such as
· To Add: also, furthermore, besides, moreover, another, similarly, for the same reason
· To Provide Alternatives: or, neither…nor, also, too, even more important
· To Contrast: although, nevertheless, on the other hand, whereas, but, instead, in contrast, despite, nonetheless
· To Compare: similarly, in the same way, also, by the same token, just as…so too
· To Emphasise or Repeat: in fact, indeed, certainly, in other words, as I have said
· To Concede: of course, naturally, granted that, although, certainly, even though, with the exception of, admittedly
· To Summarise or Conclude: in brief, on the whole, in short, therefore, as a result, finally, altogether, in general, all in all