Peer Response Sheet: Document Analysis Checklist Content q
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q How does the analysis address the following questions? Ø Who is the audience? What characteristics of this audience are relevant to this particular message? Ø What is the purpose of the document? Ø What information must the message include? Ø How does the author build support his/her position? What reasons or reader benefits will the audience find convincing? Ø What objections are expected from the audience? What negative elements are de­emphasized or overcome? Ø What aspects of the total situation/environment affect reader response (i.e. economy, time of the year, company morale, relationship with writer)? What makes this memo analytical over being just a summary of the document? How does the document analyze how effective the document is achieving reader benefits and you­attitude? Does the document provide a sound argument in support of its claims? Does the analysis clearly identify the document’s audience, purpose, and context? Does the memo evaluate the document and make a recommendation whether the document should be retained, discarded, or revised? Organization q
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q Does the memo have a brief descriptive title? Does it contain an opening paragraph that provides an overview of the memo? Does each paragraph have a clear, descriptive topic sentence? Are there smooth transitions and coherent links between ideas? Does the document demonstrate orderly and coherent presentation of the material? Format q
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q Does the memo adhere to a standard memo format? Does the memo have a proper heading (memo, date, to, form, subject)? Does the memo display consistent, effective design and formatting (at least 2 levels of headings)
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Does the memo avoid clichés and unnecessary jargon? Does the memo avoid using filler sentences, statements that have no relevance to the text? Is the text concise (not wordy)? Does the text uses a conversational yet professionally appropriate tone and style? q
q Correctness q Does the memo demonstrate careful proofreading and editing? A Sample Outline Memo Date: To: From: Subject: Overview paragraph Body Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Rhetorical stance of the document (audience, purpose, context) Analysis of document based on the 6 questions Discussion of reader benefits and you­attitude with respect to the document Evaluation of document Brief recommendation Conclusion (this could include the recommendation part or a brief summary)