Unit 3 Peer Review Workshop: Content

Directions: Mark your responses directly onto the paper you are editing. Or, you can write your
answers here. If you are unsure, simply state that something seems off but you are unsure of
what.

1. Does the author present a thesis statement about the rhetorical effectiveness of a
peer-reviewed article? Is this thesis clear and direct? What is it? Mark it in the text.
What suggestions do you have for the writer in order to strengthen the thesis? Has
the author chosen one (and only one) peer-reviewed article to analyze?

Yes, the author presents a thesis statement about the rhetorical effectiveness of a peer-
reviewed article. The author has a clear and direct thesis statement, and it includes the
rhetorical strategies used by the writers. Yes, the author used one and only one peer-
reviewed article to analyze.

2. Does the essay include a controlling idea that is not obvious to everyone? In other
words, does it reveal something not everyone would know about how and why this
peer-reviewed article is used? Where can the author develop more of an analysis or
more fully develop the ideas?
Yes, the essay has a controlling idea not obvious to everyone and it reveals something not
everyone is not familiar with, and the author makes sure to explain it and elaborates the
main idea. The author fully develops her ideas in her essay.
3. Does the author use elements from the article to support the thesis made about it?
What are they? Mark them in the text. Are they used as good evidence? Indicate
why or why not in the text. What kind of evidence would help the writer
demonstrate his/her point?
Yes, the author uses elements from the article to support the thesis made about it. She
mentions the studies done and the usage of logos and ethos by the writers of the article.
Yes, they are used as good evidence.
4. Does the essay maintain a cohesive focus around the thesis? Does the author use
solid transitions to guide his/her ideas? Determine, as a reader, how you want to be
presented with the information. Does the organization work for you? Indicate
suggestions for organization and transitions. Also, mark any tangents that you find
in the essay.
Yes, the author maintains a cohesive focus around the thesis. The author has solid
transitions to guide her ideas. The organization works for me, and the author does not
have any tangents.
5. Where could the author use more detail to further illustrate his/her claim? Indicate
these places in the text.
The author has enough details and evidence in all her paragraphs to support her claim.
6. Are the introduction and conclusion focused on the main point of the essay? Does
the conclusion answer the three questions? (1. Did I do what I said I would do? 2.
Why is this important? 3. What do I want my audience to do with this information?)
Yes, the introduction and conclusion focus on the main point of the essay and the
conclusion does answer the three questions.
7. Indicate in the text the author’s strengths and weaknesses.
The author uses enough evidence to support her ideas and maintains her focus on the
thesis statement.
8. What three revision suggestions do you have for the writer?
I believe the author has a well written essay.
9. Indicate in the text where the author needs more details.

The author has enough details and information in the essay.

10. Indicate in the text where the author needs more evidence.
The author’s paragraphs are all back up with evidence from the article.
11. Indicate in the text three places where the author deserves praise for this essay.

- She uses strong transition words to make her essay go smoothly and make connections.
- She has evidence and details in each of her paragraphs to support her main ideas.
- She has a strong thesis statement and main ideas in each of her paragraph that connect to
it.