Read the first paragraph of the paper.

From the thesis, what is the "argument" or purpose for this essay? What are the main components of this argument/claim? Based on the thesis, in what order will the writer develop the essay? Does this order seem effective? Are you at all confused by the phrasing or intent of this essay? Remember, for this course, a thesis should be one sentence that indicates the topic, the commentary (e.g., the point to be proven or particular perspectives that will be explored), and the order of the essay (the main points of the analysis or "landmarks" in your essay). Even if you think that the thesis is "good," how do you think it could be made better?

How does the introductory paragraph function? Does it engage your interest? Does it entice you to read more of the essay? Does it provide important or necessary information? Remember, the introduction is not simply supposed to be filler words around a thesis; it's supposed to be an invitation that the reader would want to accept.

Quickly skim the body paragraphs of the essay.

	Does the first sentence of each paragraph clearly indicate the topic of that paragraph?
	Do the topic sentences appear to reflect back to the content of the thesis?

Read the conclusion, then read the introduction once more. Does the conclusion merely restate the thesis, or does it add a new dimension to the topic? Does it reflect critical thinking, or does it digress into cliches or general, "blandisms"? Even if you think that the conclusion is "good," how do you think it could be made better?

Can you determine a logical progression of ideas? Why or why not? Does it seem that some points are being repeated or assumed?

What suggestions might you make to the writer to make the organization more effective?

Do the paragraphs read like a "grocery list" of proofs? (If the paragraphs or sections do read as such, when was the last time you looked forward to reading a grocery list?)

How well does the writer support his or her claims?

If the writer used other sources, is quotation/ paraphrasing/ summarizing pertinent, or is it "filler"?

	Could the writer have made better use of his or her sources? Why or why not?
	Are the sources appropriate for college writing?
	Is it clear what the writer is citing and what constitutes his or her original scholarship (this is very important!)? Does the writer use clear signal phrases to introduce each source?

Are you confused by any of the "connections" made in the paper? Why or why not?

Ultimately, does the writer fulfill the promise that he or she made in the thesis (keep this in mind not only for the topic and the commentary, but the order as well)?

Does the phrasing appear artificial, mechanical, "boring," or awkward?

Is the writer's vocabulary precise and suitable for college writing?

Does the writer use slang (which, unless quoting a source, is inappropriate)?

What type(s) of argument does the writer use?

Does the writer appeal to logic? ethics? emotion?

What type of audience does the writer appear to be writing for?

Is there anyone excluded by this? Is this necessarily bad?

Does the writer make assumptions about the audience that may offend (e.g., assumptions concerning age, race, religion, class, or sexual orientation)?

Does the writer make assumptions about the audience that may affect certain readers' comprehension of the argument (for instance, assuming that all readers are Catholics and will know what a  CCD class is)?

Generally, how effective are the writer's methods in these regards? What suggestions might you make to the writer?

By now, the writer should have a general understanding of his or her "trouble spots" in grammar. Read through the entire essay to determine if any such trouble spots exist. (Check out SMH if, for some reason, the author has yet to check what the editorial notations mean)

Refer to the SMH's list of the 20 most common surface errors. Check if you think (or are sure) that any of these errors may exist in the paper. Note these errors for the author (later, you may want to suggest ways to correct the errors; for now, mark the paper)

Using the MLA guidelines in SMH, check that the paper is set up in MLA style, and uses proper MLA citation. Check that the list of Works Cited also is properly formatted.