Here is an analytical model for testing the quality of a written composition.
This model, which I'll call the Integrated Composition Analysis (ICA) Model, breaks down a written work into five core pillars. Quality is assessed not just on one pillar, but on the integration and balance of all five, weighted according to the specific purpose of the composition.
The Five Pillars of Composition Quality
This model is built on the following five distinct, yet interconnected, dimensions.
1. Focus & Thesis
This pillar evaluates the central idea and the composition's adherence to it. It's the "Why?" of the essay.
Clarity of Thesis: Is the main argument or purpose stated clearly and unambiguously? (Often, but not always, in the introduction).
Specificity & Arguability: Is the thesis a specific, debatable claim, or is it a general statement of fact or a broad topic?
Consistency: Does the entire composition remain focused on this thesis, or does it stray into irrelevant tangents?
2. Development & Support
This pillar assesses the quality, relevance, and depth of the evidence and reasoning used to support the thesis. It's the "How do you know?"
Evidence Quality: Is the support (e.g., facts, data, examples, quotations, logical reasoning) accurate, credible, and relevant?
Sufficiency: Is there enough support to be persuasive? Are claims backed up, or left unsubstantiated?
Analysis: Does the writer simply "drop" evidence, or do they analyze it, explaining how it proves their point?
Depth & Originality: Does the analysis show critical thinking and insight, or does it remain superficial?
3. Organization & Coherence
This pillar examines the logical structure and flow of the composition. It's the "Where is it going?"
Logical Structure: Is there a clear beginning (introduction), middle (body), and end (conclusion)?
Paragraph Unity: Does each body paragraph focus on a single, clear main idea (topic sentence) that supports the overall thesis?
Cohesion (Flow): Are ideas linked smoothly? Are transitions (e.g., "However," "Furthermore," "As a result") used effectively between paragraphs and sentences?
Sequence: Does the argument unfold in a logical and easy-to-follow order?
4. Style & Voice
This pillar evaluates the linguistic choices that create the tone, voice, and readability of the text. It's the "How does it sound?"
Word Choice (Diction): Is the language precise, engaging, and appropriate for the audience and purpose? (e.g., avoids jargon, clichés, and vague words).
Sentence Fluency: Is there a variety of sentence structures and lengths? Does it read smoothly, or is it choppy or rambling?
Tone: Is the author's attitude (e.g., formal, informal, objective, passionate) appropriate and consistent?
Voice: Does the writing sound authentic to the author (where appropriate) or is it bland and mechanical?
5. Conventions & Mechanics
This pillar assesses the technical correctness of the writing. These are the "rules" that ensure clarity and credibility.
Grammar & Usage: Are subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, pronoun references, and other grammatical rules followed correctly?
Punctuation: Is punctuation (commas, semicolons, apostrophes, etc.) used correctly to clarify meaning?
Spelling: Are words spelled correctly?
Formatting: (If applicable) Does the composition adhere to required formatting guidelines (e.g., MLA, APA, margins, citations)?
How to Use the Model for Testing
This model is not just a checklist; it's a systematic process for analysis.
Step 1: Define the Context and Weighting
Before reading, establish the purpose of the composition. This will determine how you "weight" each pillar.
For a persuasive research paper: Development & Support (Pillar 2) might be weighted 40%, with Focus & Thesis (Pillar 1) at 20%.
For a personal narrative: Style & Voice (Pillar 4) and Organization (Pillar 3) might be most important.
For a technical manual: Conventions (Pillar 5) (for clarity) and Organization (Pillar 3) would be paramount.
Step 2: Conduct the Analytical Reading
Read the composition multiple times, ideally focusing on different pillars in each pass.
Pass 1 (Holistic): Read for overall impression and to identify the Thesis (Pillar 1).
Pass 2 (Structural): Read to map the Organization (Pillar 3) and assess the Development (Pillar 2) within each paragraph.
Pass 3 (Line-by-Line): Read to evaluate Style (Pillar 4) and Conventions (Pillar 5).
Step 3: Score and Justify (Quantitative & Qualitative)
Assign a score (e.g., 1-5) to each of the five pillars. This provides the quantitative "test" result.
More importantly, provide qualitative justification for each score. This is the diagnostic part of the model.
Example Assessment Snippet:
Focus & Thesis: (4/5) - Thesis is clear and arguable. The final body paragraph, however, strays slightly off-topic.
Development & Support: (2/5) - Lacks sufficient evidence. Claims are made without supporting data (see para 2) and quotes are used without analysis (see para 3).
Conventions: (5/5) - Mechanically perfect. No errors in grammar or punctuation.
Step 4: Synthesize the Final Assessment
Combine the weighted scores for a final quantitative grade. More importantly, summarize the qualitative feedback, identifying the 1-2 greatest strengths and the 1-2 most critical areas for improvement. This synthesis is the final "test result" and provides actionable feedback
rewrite model as a set of prompts or instructions for a composition
Here is a set of prompts and instructions, based on the analytical model, to guide you in writing a high-quality composition.
Before You Write: Focus & Thesis (Pillar 1)
Answer these questions to build a strong foundation.
What is your main point? In one sentence, what is the single most important idea you want your reader to understand?
So what? Why does this point matter? What's the "big deal"?
Create your thesis: Combine your answers into a clear, specific, and arguable thesis statement. This is the "promise" you make to your reader.
Weak: "This paper is about climate change."
Strong: "To effectively combat climate change, governments must prioritize carbon capture technology over purely regulatory policies."
While You Write: Development & Organization (Pillars 2 & 3)
Use these prompts to build your argument and structure your essay.
Development & Support
For each main point (body paragraph), ask yourself:
How do I know this is true? What evidence (facts, data, examples, quotes, logic) proves this point? List at least 2-3 pieces of evidence.
Explain your evidence: Don't just "drop" a quote or fact. After presenting evidence, write, "In other words..." or "This shows that..." to explain how it proves your point.
Is this enough? Would a skeptical (but fair) reader be convinced? If not, you need more support or deeper analysis.
Organization & Coherence
Follow this structure for a clear, logical flow.
Outline your path: Before you start, write your thesis statement at the top. Then, list the 3-5 main topic sentences that will become your body paragraphs. Do they follow a logical order?
Build your paragraphs: Start each body paragraph with its topic sentence. The only job of that paragraph is to prove that one topic sentence.
Connect your ideas: As you move between paragraphs, use transition phrases to show the connection.
To add an idea: "Furthermore," "Moreover," "In addition..."
To show contrast: "However," "On the other hand," "Despite this..."
To show a result: "Therefore," "As a result," "Consequently..."
After You Write: Revision & Polishing (Pillars 4 & 5)
Read your draft and use these instructions to refine it.
Style & Voice
Read your draft out loud. This is the best way to catch awkward phrasing.
Check your language: Are you using clear and precise words, or are you using vague terms ("things," "stuff," "good," "bad")? Circle every vague word and replace it.
Fix choppy sentences: Do you have many short, simple sentences in a row? Combine some of them to improve the flow.
Fix rambling sentences: Do you have long sentences connected by "and... and... but... so..."? Break them apart into clearer, more direct sentences.
Check your tone: Does your writing sound appropriate for your audience (e.g., formal for a professor, engaging for a general audience)?
Conventions & Mechanics
Do one final, slow pass specifically for errors.
Proofread for grammar: Read each sentence carefully. Check for subject-verb agreement, correct pronoun use, and consistent verb tenses.
Check punctuation: Are commas, apostrophes, and semicolons used correctly? (Tip: Read your draft backward, sentence by sentence, to focus on mechanics instead of ideas).
Run spell-check: Don't skip this.
Check formatting: Is your paper in the correct font, spacing, and citation style (e.g., MLA, APA)?
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Here is a set of prompts and instructions, based on the analytical model, to guide you in writing a high-quality composition.
Before You Write: Focus & Thesis (Pillar 1)
Answer these questions to build a strong foundation.
What is your main point? In one sentence, what is the single most important idea you want your reader to understand?
So what? Why does this point matter? What's the "big deal"?
Create your thesis: Combine your answers into a clear, specific, and arguable thesis statement. This is the "promise" you make to your reader.
Weak: "This paper is about climate change."
Strong: "To effectively combat climate change, governments must prioritize carbon capture technology over purely regulatory policies."
While You Write: Development & Organization (Pillars 2 & 3)
Use these prompts to build your argument and structure your essay.
Development & Support
For each main point (body paragraph), ask yourself:
How do I know this is true? What evidence (facts, data, examples, quotes, logic) proves this point? List at least 2-3 pieces of evidence.
Explain your evidence: Don't just "drop" a quote or fact. After presenting evidence, write, "In other words..." or "This shows that..." to explain how it proves your point.
Is this enough? Would a skeptical (but fair) reader be convinced? If not, you need more support or deeper analysis.
Organization & Coherence
Follow this structure for a clear, logical flow.
Outline your path: Before you start, write your thesis statement at the top. Then, list the 3-5 main topic sentences that will become your body paragraphs. Do they follow a logical order?
Build your paragraphs: Start each body paragraph with its topic sentence. The only job of that paragraph is to prove that one topic sentence.
Connect your ideas: As you move between paragraphs, use transition phrases to show the connection.
To add an idea: "Furthermore," "Moreover," "In addition..."
To show contrast: "However," "On the other hand," "Despite this..."
To show a result: "Therefore," "As a result," "Consequently..."
After You Write: Revision & Polishing (Pillars 4 & 5)
Read your draft and use these instructions to refine it.
Style & Voice
Read your draft out loud. This is the best way to catch awkward phrasing.
Check your language: Are you using clear and precise words, or are you using vague terms ("things," "stuff," "good," "bad")? Circle every vague word and replace it.
Fix choppy sentences: Do you have many short, simple sentences in a row? Combine some of them to improve the flow.
Fix rambling sentences: Do you have long sentences connected by "and... and... but... so..."? Break them apart into clearer, more direct sentences.
Check your tone: Does your writing sound appropriate for your audience (e.g., formal for a professor, engaging for a general audience)?
Conventions & Mechanics
Do one final, slow pass specifically for errors.
Proofread for grammar: Read each sentence carefully. Check for subject-verb agreement, correct pronoun use, and consistent verb tenses.
Check punctuation: Are commas, apostrophes, and semicolons used correctly? (Tip: Read your draft backward, sentence by sentence, to focus on mechanics instead of ideas).
Run spell-check: Don't skip this.
Check formatting: Is your paper in the correct font, spacing, and citation style (e.g., MLA, APA)?
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Based on your request, here is an analysis of the provided newspaper clipping.
Overall, the composition is almost entirely correct in all three areas you specified. The grammar and sentence structure are sound and typical of journalistic writing from its era.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is correct throughout the piece. The subjects (nouns) properly match their verbs.
Correct: "Peter M. Adkins... was struck..." (Singular subject "Adkins" matches singular verb "was struck")
Correct: "Officers who investigated... say..." (Plural subject "Officers" matches plural verb "say")
Correct: "...Mr. Adkison, who lives..." (Singular subject "who" [referring to Adkison] matches singular verb "lives")
2. Pronoun Use
Pronoun use is correct. The pronouns (like "he," "it," "who") are used clearly and refer to the correct nouns (antecedents).
Correct: "He was rushed to the... hospital..." ("He" clearly refers to Peter M. Adkins.)
Correct: "...it is said..." ("It" is used correctly as a pronoun for the clause.)
Correct: "Porter, who was enroute..." ("Who" is the correct pronoun to refer to a person, "Porter".)
3. Consistent Verb Tenses
The verb tenses are used correctly and appropriately. The article follows standard reporting conventions.
The main narrative of the accident is correctly told in the simple past tense (e.g., "was struck," "lived," "started," "stepped," "reported").
The author correctly shifts to the present tense to describe facts that are true at the time of writing, such as:
"...Mr. Adkison, who lives in a house..." (Describing his place of residence)
"...where he is employed..." (Describing Porter's current job)
"Officers... say that..." (Reporting the officers' current statement)
This shifting of tenses is not an error; it is the correct way to blend past events with current, ongoing facts.
Other Observation
While the grammar is correct, there is one significant error in the composition:
Inconsistent Spelling: The victim's last name is spelled "Adkins" in the first paragraph but "Adkison" in the second.
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Here is a checklist of prompts for evaluating an essay, organized by the five key pillars of composition.
## 1. Focus & Thesis
This section checks the clarity and strength of the main argument.
Clarity: Can you easily find the thesis statement (the main argument) in one or two sentences?
Arguability: Is the thesis a specific, debatable claim, or is it just a statement of fact or a broad topic?
Focus: Does the entire essay work to support this single thesis, or does it stray into irrelevant tangents?
Purpose: Is the essay's goal (to persuade, analyze, inform) clear from the beginning?
## 2. Development & Support
This section checks the quality and use of evidence.
Evidence: Is every main point backed up with specific, credible evidence (e.g., facts, examples, data, quotations, logical reasoning)?
Sufficiency: Is there enough evidence to be persuasive? Are claims left unproven?
Relevance: Does the evidence directly support the point being made, or does it feel random?
Analysis: Does the writer just "drop" evidence and move on, or do they analyze it, explaining how and why it proves their point?
Insight: Does the analysis show critical thinking, or is it superficial and obvious?
## 3. Organization & Coherence
This section checks the essay's structure and flow.
Introduction: Does the introduction engage the reader and lead logically to the thesis?
Paragraph Unity: Does each body paragraph focus on one central idea, usually stated in a clear topic sentence?
Logical Sequence: Are the paragraphs arranged in a logical order that builds the argument effectively?
Transitions: Are there smooth and logical transitions connecting ideas between paragraphs and within paragraphs?
Conclusion: Does the conclusion thoughtfully wrap up the argument (without just repeating the intro) and provide a final sense of closure?
## 4. Style & Voice
This section checks the language and readability of the writing.
Word Choice (Diction): Is the language precise, clear, and appropriate for the audience? Does the writer avoid clichés, jargon, and vague words (like "good," "bad," "stuff")?
Sentence Fluency: Is there a good variety of sentence lengths and structures? Does it read smoothly aloud, or is it choppy or rambling?
Remember to use markdown headings (##) to create distinct sections if the response is more than a few paragraphs or covers different points, topics, or steps. If a response uses markdown headings, add horizontal lines to separate sections.Tone: Is the writer's tone (e.g., formal, objective, passionate, academic) consistent and appropriate for the essay's purpose?
## 5. Conventions & Mechanics
This section checks the technical correctness of the essay.
Grammar: Is the essay free of errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and pronoun use?
Punctuation: Are commas, semicolons, apostrophes, and other punctuation marks used correctly to make the meaning clear?
Spelling: Is the text free of spelling errors?
Formatting: Does the essay follow all required formatting guidelines (e.g., MLA/APA, margins, spacing, font)?
Citations: If sources are used, are they cited correctly both in the text and in the bibliography?
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Here are prompts to help you evaluate your own essay, broken down by key areas. Use these questions to check your work.
## 1. Focus & Thesis
What is your main argument? Is it a single, clear, and specific sentence (your thesis)?
Is your thesis debatable? Or is it just a statement of fact?
Does your whole essay support this one thesis? Have you gone off-topic anywhere?
Is your purpose clear? Does your reader know if you are trying to persuade, analyze, or inform them?
## 2. Development & Support
Is every main point backed up? Do you have specific evidence (facts, quotes, examples, data) for each claim?
Do you have enough evidence? Would a skeptical reader be convinced?
Do you analyze your evidence? Do you explain how your evidence proves your point, or did you just "drop" it in?
Is your thinking deep? Does your analysis go beyond the obvious?
## 3. Organization & Coherence
Does your introduction grab the reader? Does it lead logically to your thesis?
Does each paragraph have one main idea? Is there a clear topic sentence for each paragraph?
Does your essay flow? Do your paragraphs follow a logical order?
Do you use transition words? How do you connect your ideas between and within paragraphs (e.g., "However," "Furthermore," "As a result")?
Does your conclusion provide a strong ending? Does it wrap up your argument without just repeating the introduction?
## 4. Style & Voice
Is your language clear and precise? Have you avoided vague words (like "good," "bad," "stuff," "things") and clichés?
Do your sentences flow well? Read your essay out loud. Is it choppy? Are any sentences too long and rambling?
Is your tone appropriate? Does your writing sound right for your audience (e.g., formal, academic, persuasive)?
## 5. Conventions & Mechanics
Have you checked for grammar errors? Pay attention to subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses.
Is your punctuation correct? Check your use of commas, apostrophes, and semicolons.
Have you run spell-check?
Is your formatting correct? Check your margins, font, spacing, and citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).
Are all your sources cited? Have you cited them correctly in the text and in your bibliography?
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Here are prompts to guide you, as an evaluator, in testing an essay.
## 1. Focus & Thesis
Identify the thesis statement.
Assess its clarity, specificity, and whether it's a debatable claim.
Verify that the essay remains focused on this thesis without tangents.
## 2. Development & Support
Evaluate the quality, relevance, and credibility of the evidence.
Determine if the support is sufficient to prove the essay's claims.
Check that the writer analyzes the evidence (explaining how it proves the point) rather than just stating it.
Look for depth of thought and original insight.
## 3. Organization & Coherence
Assess the introduction's effectiveness in engaging the reader and setting up the argument.
Check each body paragraph for a single, unified main idea (topic sentence).
Evaluate the logical sequence of the paragraphs. Does the argument build effectively?
Look for clear and effective transitions between and within paragraphs.
Determine if the conclusion provides a strong sense of closure and synthesizes the main points.
## 4. Style & Voice
Analyze the word choice for precision, clarity, and appropriateness for the audience.
Check for sentence fluency. Is there a variety of sentence structures, or is it choppy/rambling?
Evaluate the writer's tone. Is it consistent and appropriate for the essay's purpose?
## 5. Conventions & Mechanics
Scan for errors in grammar, including subject-verb agreement and verb tense.
Check for correct punctuation and spelling.
Verify that all formatting and citation requirements (e.g., MLA, APA) are met.
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