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DePauw Writing Center/Dr. Susan Hahn

Your Name_______________________

Peer Editing Sheet Paper Writer’s Name ______________

1. Talk to the paper writer about any concerns s/he may have about the paper. Read through the paper fairly quickly to get a sense of the whole thing. Read primarily to see if you can follow the argument; do you have questions as you are reading?

2. Underline passages or sentences that aren’t clear to you. Write in specific questions when you think of them. Do you want to know more? Would you like to see specific examples? Circle obvious mistakes but don’t stop to correct them. Put a check mark or exclamation point next to things your think are really effectively expressed or good points.

3. Now go back through the paper carefully paying attention to the following specific issues:

1. Introduction:

Does the opening paragraph clearly set the context for what the paper is about?

Does it establish a thesis?

Does it suggest "so what" or some sense of the significance or relevance of this topic?

2. Argument:

Are you persuaded by the argument?

Do you need to provide more evidence?

Is there enough analysis of the evidence?

Is there too much plot summary that isn’t directly analytical?

3. Quotes:

Are they used to support or illuminate arguments?

Are they too long?

Have you provided documentation? (See Writing Center handouts on citing sources, especially online sources.)

Have you explained why they are significant?

Have you interpreted them?

4. Organization:

Does the development of the argument flow smoothly?

Can you follow the logical transitions?

Would you change the order?

Would you make clearer transitions?

5. Development:

Can you think of pieces of the argument that might be missing?

Are there areas you could add that would add more complexity?

What would someone who disagrees with your ideas say? Have you anticipated their questions?

6. Conclusions:

Do you tell us "so what"?

Do you suggest the implications of your argument?

Do you do more than restate the points of your argument?

Suggestions for Revision:

Read your paper out loud (this works especially well if you actually read it to someone). Listen to the paper the way someone else might hear it. Underline passages or sentences that you pause or stumble over as you read them out loud. Go back to these passages later.

Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. For example, proofread for spelling in a separate step than proofreading for punctuation or than proofreading for coherent flow of ideas.

After you’ve made initial revisions, you may decide you want further feedback about your writing. We encourage you to take advantage of the services provided by tutors in the Writing Center. Walk-ins are accepted if tutors are available, but to ensure there will be someone ready to work with you, make an appointment in the center, or, call us at x4038 (morning) or x4039 (afternoons or evenings) to schedule one. Tutors are available Monday through Friday from 1-5 PM and Sunday through Thursday from 7-10 PM.