ARGUMENTATIVE RESEARCH ESSAYS WRITER: For peer review, exchange your draft with your partner. Provide detailed answers to the questions below (a simple yes/no is not sufficient). When you have completed the sheet, return the worksheet to your partner. You may also make comments directly on the essay. FORMAT 1. Is the document formatted in correct MLA style? Do the margins, identification, header, spacing, font type and size meet MLA requirements?  FOCUS 1. Evaluate the introduction. It should be relevant and focused, and it should let you know what the paper topic is and what sort of audience is being targeted. It should build up to a thesis statement. Does the introduction catch your attention? Is the thesis stated in the introduction? If not, what suggestions can you make? 2. Identify the thesis statement. Does the thesis introduce both the topic and the claim the writer argues about that topic? Make suggestions for improvement or comment on the strengths of the thesis. 3. Has the essay’s author considered the audience’s needs? Has he or she provided enough explanation for a reader who is new to the subject matter? Are the writing level and tone suitable for an academic audience? 4. Is the draft written in third person point of view? Does the writer mistakenly shift into second person (you) or use first person (I, we, our)? If so, mark where the writer needs to correct his or her use of second person pronouns. ORGANIZATION 1. Is the draft well organized overall (introduction, body, and conclusion)? Does the essays method of organization (chronological, simple to complex, order of importance) provide a logical framework? What suggestions can you make to improve organization? 2. Does each paragraph begin with a topic sentence that states the paragraph’s main point, connects the paragraph to the essay’s thesis statement, and unifies the paragraph’s content? If not, what suggestions can you make to improve topic sentences? 3. Mark places in the essay where signal devices (transitions) would improve flow. CONTENT 1. Do the supporting sentences in the body paragraphs provide enough specific examples and details? Do any examples digress from the paragraph’s main point? Mark places in the essay where more examples are needed or where more concrete and specific words would make the examples more effective. Also, mark examples that do not relate to the paragraph’s topic sentence. Comment on whether you think these examples should be deleted, or whether the topic sentence should be revised to fit the examples. 2.  Where might evidence seem weak or irrelevant? Where does the writer rely too heavily on outside sources instead of making his or her own argument and supporting it with research information? 3.  Does the writer anticipate and respond to opposing viewpoints? If not, mark in the essay where you think the writer should address opposing views. . 4.  Did the writer integrate quotations into his or her own sentence using signal ...

1. ARGUMENTATIVE RESEARCH ESSAYS
WRITER:
For peer review, exchange your draft with your partner. Provide
detailed answers to the questions below (a simple yes/no is not
sufficient). When you have completed the sheet, return the
worksheet to your partner.
You may also make comments directly on the essay.
FORMAT
1. Is the document formatted in correct MLA style? Do the
margins, identification, header, spacing, font type and size meet
MLA requirements?
FOCUS
1. Evaluate the introduction. It should be relevant and focused,
and it should let you know what the paper topic is and what sort
of audience is being targeted. It should build up to a thesis
statement. Does the introduction catch your attention? Is the
thesis stated in the introduction? If not, what suggestions can
you make?
2. Identify the thesis statement. Does the thesis introduce both
the topic and the claim the writer argues about that topic? Make
suggestions for improvement or comment on the strengths of the
thesis.
3. Has the essay’s author considered the audience’s needs? Has
he or she provided enough explanation for a reader who is new
to the subject matter? Are the writing level and tone suitable for
an academic audience?

2. 4. Is the draft written in third person point of view? Does the
writer mistakenly shift into second person (you) or use first
person (I, we, our)? If so, mark where the writer needs to
correct his or her use of second person pronouns.
ORGANIZATION
1. Is the draft well organized overall (introduction, body, and
conclusion)? Does the essays method of organization
(chronological, simple to complex, order of importance) provide
a logical framework? What suggestions can you make to
improve organization?
2. Does each paragraph begin with a topic sentence that states
the paragraph’s main point, connects the paragraph to the
essay’s thesis statement, and unifies the paragraph’s content? If
not, what suggestions can you make to improve topic sentences?
3. Mark places in the essay where signal devices (transitions)
would improve flow.
CONTENT
1. Do the supporting sentences in the body paragraphs provide
enough specific examples and details? Do any examples digress
from the paragraph’s main point? Mark places in the essay
where more examples are needed or where more concrete and
specific words would make the examples more effective. Also,
mark examples that do not relate to the paragraph’s topic
sentence. Comment on whether you think these examples should
be deleted, or whether the topic sentence should be revised to
fit the examples.
2. Where might evidence seem weak or irrelevant? Where does
the writer rely too heavily on outside sources instead of making

3. his or her own argument and supporting it with research
information?
3. Does the writer anticipate and respond to opposing
viewpoints? If not, mark in the essay where you think the writer
should address opposing views. .
4. Did the writer integrate quotations into his or her own
sentence using signal phrases? If not, mark places in the essay
where writer needs to add signal phrases.
5. Did the writer include in-text parenthetical citations at the
ends of sentences that contain information from an outside
source? Does the period at the end of the sentence follow the
parentheses? Also, look for unnecessary punctuation inside the
citation; there should not be a comma between an author’s name
and the page numbers.
6. Did the writer list all outside sources used in the paper on
the works cited page? Is the works cited page formatted in
correct MLA style?
7. Does the essay have a fully developed concluding paragraph?
Does it leave the reader with a sense of closure and summarize
the essay’s main point? Can you make suggestions for
improvement?
8. Are there places where repetitious sentence patterns or
redundant vocabulary makes the essay monotonous? Where
would more varied sentence structure add interest to the essay
and emphasize key ideas?
GRAMMAR
1. Are there any grammar errors (fragments, fused sentences,
comma splices, vague pronoun references, subject-verb or

4. pronoun-antecedent agreement, verb tense shifts)? Are there
spelling or punctuation errors? Mark any grammar, spelling, or
punctuation errors, use of contractions that you found in the
draft.
RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION
1. Is specific information parentheticall y cited in correct MLA
style?
2. Is the works cited in correct MLA style?
3. Is there evidence of the number of required sources and are
the sources credible?
END NOTES
Please make one or two additional suggestions to help the writer
with revisions.