If the student does have a thesis statement, what are your thoughts on it? Do you think that this thesis shows evidence of original thought? Does it set out an interesting problem? How could it be improved?

Read the first paragraph. Does the student have a thesis statement? If so, write the student’s thesis in your own words. If not, give the student a suggestion as to how to include a good thesis statement. For example, which sentence could they turn into a thesis statement?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the student does have a thesis statement, what are your thoughts on it? Do you think that this thesis shows evidence of original thought? Does it set out an interesting problem? How could it be improved?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read just the first sentences of each paragraph.  Does each topic sentence serve to advance the argument?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below, create an outline of the major structural components of the essay. In what order are big ideas addressed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you think this order leads the reader through the argument in a logical fashion? Are there places where you are surprised or confused by what comes next? Does this order correspond with how the introductory paragraph set up the essay, or are there changes that could be made to the order, the introduction, or both?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now go back and read each paragraph.  Does the evidence introduced in each paragraph adequately support the claim made in the topic sentence?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you think that the student needs to do further research? On what aspects?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List at least two problem areas in which the student could improve the quality of the writing in this paper (could be grammatical, stylistic, etc). For example, you could list things like comma usage, sentence construction (sentence fragments, run-on sentences), word choice, overall proofreading, etc. Give one specific example of each problem area where you demonstrate how to fix the issue.