This document provides guidance for evaluating an argumentative essay in three parts: 1. Assess how well the essay presents the issue and supports the author's position. Praise effective examples and critique areas for improvement. 2. Consider how well objections and alternative positions are addressed. Praise strong counterarguments and note ways to strengthen concessions or refutations. 3. Evaluate the overall readability and organization of the essay. Suggest ways to improve clarity, transitions, or structure.

1. EWRT 1A Essay 2: The Argument paper: Peer Evaluation
A good critical reading does three things: It lets the writer know how the reader understands the point of
the story, praises what works best, and indicates where the draft could be improved.
1. Evaluate how well the issue is presented.
a. Summarize: Tell the writer what you understand the issue to be about. If you were
already familiar with it and understand it differently, briefly explain.
b. Praise: Give an example from the essay where the issue and its significance come across
effectively.
c. Critique: Tell the writer where more information about the issue is needed, where more
might be done to establish its seriousness, or how the issue could be reframed in a way
that would better prepare readers for the argument.
2. Assess how well the position is supported.
a. Summarize: Underline the thesis statement and the main reasons.
b. Praise: Give an example in the essay where the argument is especially effective—for
example, indicate which reason is especially convincing or which supporting evidence is
particularly compelling.
c. Critique: Tell the writer where the argument could be strengthened—for example,
indicate how the thesis statement could be made clearer or more appropriately qualified,
how the argument could be developed, or where additional support is needed.
3. Consider how effectively objections and alternative positions are counterargued.
a. Praise: Give an example in the essay where a concession seems particularly well done or
a refutation is convincing.
b. Critique: Tell the writer how a concession or refutation could be made more convincing;
what objection or alternative position should be counterargued; or where common ground
could be sought.
4. Assess how readable the argument is.
a. Praise: Give an example of where the essay succeeds in being especially easy to read,
either in its overall organization, clear presentation of the thesis, clear transitions, an
effective opening or closing, or by other means.
b. Critique: Tell the writer where the readability could be improved. Can you, for example,
suggest better forecasting, clearer transitions, or a more effective ending? If the overall
organization of the essay needs work, make suggestions for rearranging parts or
strengthening connections.
5. Assess the formatting and sources: Make suggestions about how to improve the following.
a. Is the paper in MLA style?
b. Are the in-text citations introduced?
c. Do they have the proper parenthetical information, and can you trace the quoted or
summarized material to the works cited page?
d. Is the works cited page correct?
6. If the writer has expressed concern about anything in the draft that you have not discussed,
respond to that concern.