Peer Editing
Essay
Essay Written By:______________________________________________
Peer Edited By:________________________________________________
Topic/Content Addressed in Essay:________________________________
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Instructions: Complete the information below. Be very thorough and give ample feedback. Give
your peer the quality feedback that you would wish for yourself.
INTRODUCTION/THESIS:
Essays should begin with an introductory paragraph that contains a thesis. A thesis is a statement (one
or more sentences) that restates the question AND identifies the main ideas to be addressed in the
essay. In a well-organized essay, each main idea identified will correspond to one of the main
paragraphs of the body of the essay.
1. Does the essay adequately restate/address the question? YES or NO (circle one)
2. List the three main ideas identified in the thesis. *If you cannot easily find the three main
ideas, the student does NOT have a strong thesis.
a. _____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________
3. What could your peer do to improve the thesis? Provide at least 1 suggestion.
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BODY:
In a well-written essay, each body paragraph should contain one main idea that is thoroughly supported
with evidence (facts) and analysis. Students should begin each body paragraph with a claim (topic
sentence) that re-addresses the question and identifies the big idea to be addressed in that paragraph.
When you change topics, you should change paragraphs.
First Paragraph of the body (should be 2nd paragraph in the essay)
1. Does each paragraph begin with a strong claim/topic sentence? YES or NO (circle one)
2. What is the main idea of paragraph 1 of the body? *If you cannot easily identify the main
idea, the student needs to more be more clear.
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3. Strong essays contain thorough explanation and evidence (facts, data). List the
data/evidence/facts use by your peer to support the main idea of this paragraph. *A
good essay should contain at least 3 pieces of evidence for support.
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Peer Editing
Essay
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4. What could your peer do to improve this paragraph? Provide at least 1 suggestion.
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Second Paragraph of the body (should be 3rd paragraph in the essay)
1. Does each paragraph begin with a strong claim/topic sentence? YES or NO (circle one)
2. What is the main idea of paragraph 1 of the body? *If you cannot easily identify the main
idea, the student needs to more be more clear.
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3. Strong essays contain thorough explanation and evidence (facts, data). List the
data/evidence/facts use by your peer to support the main idea of this paragraph. *A
good essay should contain at least 3 pieces of evidence for support.
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4. What could your peer do to improve this paragraph? Provide at least 1 suggestion.
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Third Paragraph of the body (should be 4th paragraph in the essay)
1. Does each paragraph begin with a strong claim/topic sentence? YES or NO (circle one)
2. What is the main idea of paragraph 1 of the body? *If you cannot easily identify the main
idea, the student needs to more be more clear.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
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3. Strong essays contain thorough explanation and evidence (facts, data). List the
data/evidence/facts use by your peer to support the main idea of this paragraph. *A
good essay should contain at least 3 pieces of evidence for support.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
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Peer Editing
Essay
4. What could your peer do to improve this paragraph? Provide at least 1 suggestion.
____________________________________________________________________________
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CONCLUSION/THESIS:
Students should close the essay by briefly restating the main ideas addressed in the essay. It is
suggested that the student restate the thesis in the conclusion.
1. Does the essay contain a conclusion which restates the thesis? YES or NO (circle one)
2. What could your peer do to improve the conclusion? Provide at least one suggestion.
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WRITING CONVENTIONS:
While no student is expected to be perfect, students are expected to utilize proper writing conventions.
1. Identify any major issues with spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, word
choice, sentence structure.
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