Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Thesis
Superior argument: extraordinary synthesis of analytic ideas & command of course material
Very good argument, showing good comprehension and engagement with course material
The thesis needs to be more closely related to its supporting points and/or textual evidence
The essay does not address its chosen topic, but deals partially or entirely with another concern
The essay is organized more according to the plot of the text(s) it discusses than according to the analytic points
that would best support the thesis
The essay makes some viable points, but the points are presented randomly at times; the essay needs more
structure for its argument
3. Paragraphs
Paragraphing needs work (as a rule of thumb, think of PIE: each paragraph in a critical essay needs a Point, an
Illustration, and an Explanation).
4. Transitions
5. Supporting arguments
Thesis is well supported by argument and analysis
Supporting points are too general and need to become more concrete
Supporting arguments need more elaboration and/or evidence to better defend their claims
Supporting discussion give more plot summary than is necessary, crowding out the substance of the argument
Supporting analysis needs to consider textual details and literary composition more fully. That is, the arguments
that comprise an essay in literary criticism should talk about the writingin the text -- not so much whata text says, b
howit says it. (For more on this point, see Prof. Jack Lynch's explanation of close reading .)
Supporting discussions contain many details that need connection to analytic points
The essay discusses too many texts for an assignment of its scope and word count (essays of comparison and
contrast should stick to two or at most three texts)
6. Introduction
The essay?s introduction could open with finer focus on the text(s) under discussion
7. Conclusion
The conclusion could better close the argument with an ?open question? for your reader
Sentence by Sentence
1. Wordiness:
2. Credibility:
The essay suggests a need for closer engagement with (and greater comprehension of) course material
3. Grammar:
Edit for run-on sentences (statements needing more than one sentence)
4. Punctuation:
5. Spelling:
Edit to integrate quotations more effectively and less awkwardly into the prose
The essay quotes extensively but needs more supporting commentary. Try to quote more selectively and discuss
specifically what you want your reader to see in a quotation
The arguments would be stronger with more quotation of textual evidence and/or examples
The essay is well substantiated with judicious examples and/or textual evidence
The essay makes strong connections between examples/evidence and analytic ideas
7. Word choice:
Essay could benefit from use of critical terms for literary study, e.g.
8. Sentence style:
Adapted from:
Rooke, Constance. The Clear Path: A Guide to Writing English Essays.2nd ed. Toronto: Nelson, 2000.
Shepard, Alan. English 3120: Shakespearean Receptions. Undergraduate lecture syllabus, School of English and Theatre Studies, U of Guelph, 2003.
See also the English 255 Marking Scheme, which outlines grading criteria with which the above comments are
consistent, but is more generally applicable to writing across the curriculum.