Writer
Reader
English 1113
Commentary Essay, Peer Review Workshop

What issue, specifically, is the writer addressing? Why is it relevant?

Underline the writer’s thesis—is it located at the end of the introduction?

Underline the topic sentences; list the key words for each one below:
1.
2.

Compare each support sentence to its topic sentence, and highlight any sentence that does not CLEARLY support
the topic sentence.

Read the last sentence of each paragraph; indicate with a “yes” or a “no” whether it points back to the main
argument.

Describe the writer’s ethos:
How effective is the writer’s ethos? How could s/he make her ethos stronger?

How persuasive is the commentary? What details convince you of the writer’s perspective?

How could the writer make his/her commentary stronger?

Writer’s questions:
o
o
Writer
Reader
Peer Review Workshop: Style and Usage
1. Highlight (in one color) ALL of the following Weak and Wordy sentence constructions:
There is/was/are/were
This is/was; These are/were
It is/was/
Lesson: Make the Subject the Subject!
2. Circle ALL “to be” verbs: is, was, are, were, being, been
Lesson: Use Active Verbs!
3. Underline ALL vague or general words:
Everybody, everyone, someone, somebody, things, stuff, areas, kinds, and all forms of “you”
Lesson: Use Precise Language!
4. Double-underline ALL informal or slang language:
Well, now, thru, kind of, etc.; empty words: very, really, totally, so (when used as adjective)
5. Highlight (in a 2nd color) usage errors and typos and bracket confusing sentences:
Fragments (make them complete)
Comma Splices (comma where a period should be)
Subject Verb agreement
Pronoun Agreement (their MUST refer to a plural noun)
DO NOT REWRITE OR CROSS OUT ANY OF YOUR PEER’S TEXT!
Notes: