Ask yourself all of the following questions before you even consider submitting your essay for grading. If your answer to even one of these questions is no, then you still have some work to do. Does my introduction attempt to “hook” the reader? Does my essay have a clear and specific thesis statement? Does my essay accurately tell my story? Does my essay indicate why I’m telling my story? Have I described only my own experiences? Have I used the first-person point of view (the pronoun “I”) throughout the essay? Have I clearly indicated where paragraphs begin and end? Does each of my paragraphs support my thesis statement? Does my conclusion summarize and give closure to my essay? Have I effectively proofread my essay? Have I met the length requirement? Is my essay formatted according to the instructions?