Peer Editing Question Set

Editing Guide: Peer-Evaluation
Name______________
Date___________
Filled out for (author's) _______________'s paper.

Instructions for Author:
Begin by reading your title and explaining what stage your draft is in at this point. Tell what issue or problem you are working with. Are you still getting your thoughts together or are you further along in the process? Say what you like best about your work so far, and what you would like your readers to focus on at this point, for example, to reformulate, revise, or edit. Read your paper out loud in stages, starting with the introductory paragraph. Ask your listeners to answer these worksheet questions. Everyone can refer back to copies of your paper.

Instructions for Listener (Peer Evaluator): 
Fill out this form, following along on your copy as the author reads the paper. Then give this form to the author.

1. Listen to the first paragraph. STOP. Find the author's thesis statement. Could it be worded more clearly? Is this introduction effective? If so, explain what makes it good. If not, suggest a possible improvement.
 
2. Now skip to the last paragraph. Listen to it and consider the conclusion. Does it drive home the main point (thesis)? YES or NO. (Circle one). What improvement can you recommend?
 
3. Now read along through the rest of the paper. Go back and underline the topic sentence in each paragraph. Identify by number any paragraphs without topic sentences.
 
4. Are there paragraphs that need more development or support? Which ones? What do you recommend?
 
5. Does the order of points seem logical? Look at transitions. Are all the details connected to the main idea? Are paragraphs explicitly connected to each other so that the flow of the argument is clear? Point out places that need improvement.
 
6. Does the author ever seem to be trying to impress you rather than communicate ideas? Where?
 
7. Mark any place on the rough draft where the sentences tend to be too short and jerky, or where they tend to be too long and complicated.
 
8. What do you see as the paper's strengths?
 
9. What does the author need to work on? What improvements do you recommend?



Strenski, Ellen. "Lightening the burden of assigned writing: Editing Guides for Self and Peer Evaluation ." History Teacher. 16.1 (1982): 15-16. Print.