Consider the Topic
 | Has the writer put forth an interesting intellectual problem or
question? In other words, has she constructed a problem that will require
a complex, thoughtful answer?
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| Does the problem seem impossibly broad? Too narrow? If so, how might
the writer narrow or broaden her topic so that it is more appropriate or
manageable?
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| Do you as a reader care about this question? Or do you feel, "So
what?"
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| What might the writer do to get a more interesting "take" on the
topic? |
Consider the Thesis
| Does the thesis sentence present an argument, or is it simply a
declaration of personal feeling? A statement of fact?
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| After reading the thesis, try to predict the direction and the
structure of the argument. If you can't make this prediction, talk about
why.
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| Does the introductory paragraph define terms important to
understanding the thesis? If the paper is a research paper, does the
introduction "place" the thesis within the larger, ongoing scholarly
discussion about the topic?
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| Is the language in the thesis vivid and clear? For example, has the
writer structured the sentence so that the important information is in the
main clause? Has the writer used subordinate clauses to house less
important information? Has the writer used parallelism to show the
relationship between parts of the thesis? In short, is this thesis the
very best sentence that it can be? |
Consider the Structure
| Does the structure make sense? Does it fulfill the terms set forth by
the thesis?
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| Are all of the main points relevant to the argument? If not, should
the writer omit the irrelevant points, or should he rewrite his thesis to
accommodate these ideas?
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| Does the argument seem logical? Why or why not?
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| Does the writer have sufficient support for each of his points?
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| Does the writer acknowledge other points of view about his topic? If
not, how and where might he do so?
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| Is the argument thorough? Has the writer covered the ground? |
Consider the Paragraphs
| Does each paragraph limit itself to a single point of the argument?
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| Does the topic sentence further the argument? Give the topic sentences
the same "so what?" test that you gave the thesis sentence. If the topic
sentences aren't relevant or interesting, how might they be improved?
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| Does each topic sentence clearly connect to the paragraph before?
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| Does the topic sentence control the paragraph? Why or why not? |
Consider the Evidence
| Does the writer have enough evidence to support the paper's idea? Too
much evidence?
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| Does this evidence clearly support the assertion the writer is making,
or is the writer stretching it?
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| If the writer is stretching it, what can she do to persuade the reader
that this stretch is worth making? |
Consider the Sentences
| Do you find the sentences effective? Eloquent? Grammatical?
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| Do you spot any annoying syntactical or grammatical habits?
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| What advice on the matters of style and grammar might you give? |
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