Peer Edit Checklist for Group Essays
1. Does the writer address the prompt clearly in the introduction? Do you have a clear idea about what the writer intends to prove?
2. Can you identify the thesis? Does the thesis make a defendable CENTRAL argument?
3. Is THE THESIS too broad? too general? Or, is it clearly a focused interpretation that can be backed up using explanations and evidence?
4. Does the introduction LEAD the reader into the topic under discussion by moving from the GENERAL to the SPECIFIC? Identify the lead sentence (s).
5. Can you clearly identify THREE supporting arguments in the DIRECTIONAL STATEMENT? NUMBER THEM.
6. Has the writer used TRANSITIONAL WORDS or PHRASES to link the ideas together smoothly?
7. In the body of the essay, does EACH new supporting argument start with a clear TOPIC SENTENCE that states this SUPPORTING argument? Are these supporting arguments defended in the body of the essay using the SAME order listed in the introduction?
8. Is there evidence to back up the supporting argument? How many examples have been used?
9. Does this evidence illustrate the point, or does it simply prove a known fact? Is there anything to ANALYSE in this evidence?
10. Does the writer ANALYSE the evidence, or do they use it to prove a fact? Has the writer applied their interpretation of the evidence to their interpretation of the prompt? Can you see how the evidence, interpreted this way, supports their supporting argument AND thus, the thesis? Has the writer made this clear?
11. Has the writer used TRANSITIONAL WORDS or PHRASES to link the ideas together smoothly?
12. Does the writer provide situational CONTEXT and a signal phrase to introduce the quotations? or, are they simply dropped down?
13. Is there a CONCLUDING SENTENCE used at the end of each supporting argument?
14. Does the CONCLUDING SENTENCE provide insight into the supporting argument by showing how the evidence clearly justifies the thesis?
15. Are there TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES used within each supporting argument that link the ideas together logically and smoothly?
16. Does the writer go over their thesis and supporting arguments in the CONCLUSION?
17. Does the CONCLUSION sum up the main ideas of the essay in relation to the thesis?
18. Does the CONCLUSION move from the SPECIFIC to the GENERAL?