This week, each of you will participate in editing one another’s papers. It is very important that you take this assignment seriously and be prepared when you walk into class to provide comments and feedback to one another.

The goal is not to identify what you “like” or “don’t like” about the paper.

You should start by reading over each paper that you receive once or twice. Get a feel for the argument and the flow of the paper. You might jot down some notes if something strikes you right away concerning the reading. Then do the following:
1. Identify the thesis of the paper. Write this down as a paraphrase (i.e. reword it). Is it clear in the first paragraph? If not, where, if anywhere, does it appear, or how did you identify it?
2. For EACH PARAGRAPH of the text, paraphrase the topic sentence or identify the main point of the paragraph.
3. Does each sentence of the paragraph support or relate to the main point? Identify sentences or ideas that do not fit. Why don’t they fit?
4. Are there any words or phrases that are vague or unclear?
5. Is there a logical flow from the thesis statement through the topic sentences?
6. Is there a clear transition to to this paragraph?
7. Is the paper “complete?” Are all of the arguments sufficiently supported? Do you feel that there are arguments that are missing?
8 . Is the argument clear and concise?