Things to look for

So What?

Make sure the essay both very near the beginning and at the end makes it very clear what the reader is to take away as the main points. In other words, the essay needs to very obviously answer the SO WHAT question.

History

Readability

Paragraphs

First sentences

Informative first sentences have a clear progression through the essay.

Paragraph lengths

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with long paragraphs, but long paragraphs are quite difficult to read on a screen, and are also rather off-putting to new readers confronted with a wall of text.

Focused paragraphs

Especially since you’ll be paying attention to paragraph lengths, try to identify whether paragraph has an obvious point. Paragraphs are visual representations of ideas, so each paragraph should have one main idea connected to what comes before and after it.