Persuasive Essay Peer Review and Editing Sheet
Peer Editor: _________________________________
Essay Writer: ________________________________
Part I: Fill in the answers to the questions below as you read through your peer’s essay.
1. What is the question the writer is trying to answer about their issue? (i.e. Should vending
machines be removed from schools?)
2. What, if any, lead strategy does the writer use in the introduction?____________________
3. What information does the writer give as background information?
4. What is the writer’s thesis statement? Does it have all parts (suggestion + 3 reasons)?
Label all parts.
5. What are the reasons located in the topic sentences of each body paragraph?
Reason
Supporting Detail/Example
6. Does each body paragraph have a separate reason that supports the thesis? Yes / No
(circle one)
7. Does each body paragraph have supporting details that explain or give clear examples for
the reason? Yes / No (circle one)
8. Does the write acknowledge a counterargument and respond to it? Yes / No (circle one)
If yes, write down the counterargument and the response to it.
9. What, if any, closing strategy does the writer use in the conclusion?____________________
Part II: Respond to your peer’s essay using Google Docs and the comment function or handwrite in a
different color on your peer’s essay.
10. On your peer’s essay, leave a comment on one part of the essay where the writer does well. Make
sure to be specific about what the writer does nicely and why. For example:
Good job on your thesis statement! You included the suggestion and all 3 reasons for your evidence. Maricor Chang 2/25/10 5:00 PM
11. Then, leave a comment next to three specific places the writer could improve. Again, be specific
and tell the writer how to improve this part. For example:
You don't explain much about your issue in your background information. Explain why it's controversial
and identify both sides of the argument. -Maricor Chang 2/25/10 5:03 PM
The supporting details in this paragraph do not support the reason in the topic sentence. Give an
example of how vending machines can provide breakfast for students. -Maricor Chang 2/25/10 5:07 PM
I can see you attempted to use a pointed question in your conclusion, but you’re not directing the reader
in one direction with the question. Reword the question so the reader wants to give the answer you
want. Instead of writing, “Would you have an abortion?” write something like,“ After all the other options
available, why would anyone still willingly take an innocent life through abortion?” -Maricor Chang
2/25/10 5:10 PM
Use the following list of questions as a guide to possible items to comment on. Use your notes to see
what the writer did well and what the writer should improve on.
Introduction
 Does the writer have all A, B, and C parts in the introduction? If not, what is missing?
 Does the writer use an effective attention grabber? How could the writer develop it more interesting?
 Does the reader give enough information about the background information? If not, what else could be
shared?
 Does the writer give a clear thesis that includes a suggestion + 3 reasons for evidence? If not, what is
missing?
Counterargument
 Does the writer examine a counterargument? Is the argument actually against the thesis? If not, what
could be a possible counterargument?
 If the writer does have a counterargument, does the writer actually respond to the counterargument, or
does the writer just give another supporting reason for the thesis? What could the writer say to improve the
response to counterargument?
 Does the writer provide enough supporting details, examples, or evidence in the counterargument
paragraph to show that the counterargument is weak, and therefore, reinforce the thesis?
Ideas and Sequence
 Does the order of the body paragraphs make sense? How could the writer rearrange the paragraphs so
they are in a more logical order?
 Does the writer stayed focused on the thesis in the paper? If not, where can the writer delete extraneous
information or explain how something relates to the thesis?
 Does each body paragraph have a separate reason that supports the thesis? If not, which ones are the
same? What are other reasons that could be used in a new body paragraph?
 Does each body paragraph have supporting details that explain or give clear examples for the reason? If
not, what are some examples or supporting details the writer could add?
Transitions
 Does the writer use complex transitions between paragraphs? If there are basic transitions, what are
examples of transitional phrases or sentences that could be used instead?
 Does the writer use transitions within each body paragraph to connect the examples/supporting details to
the reason? If not, what transitions can the writer use to do so?
 Are any transitions used incorrectly? If so, what would be a better transition to use?
Conclusion
 Does the conclusion use an effective closing strategy? How could the writer change the conclusion to
persuade the reader?
 Does the conclusion have more than just a strategy used? If not, what information could the writer include
to sum up the main reasons and the essay as a whole?