Persuasive Essay Peer Review
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 writer’s hook? Does it grab your attention and make you want to read more?
2. Highlight the writer’s thesis statement. Does it have all parts (claim + 3 reasons)? Is it a
firm statement or weak? Does it contain first-person pronouns (I, me, my)?
3. What are the reasons located in the topic sentences of each body paragraph?
Reason
Supporting Detail/Example
B.P #1
B.P #2
B.P #3
4. Does each body paragraph have a separate reason that supports the thesis? Yes / No
(circle one)
5. Does each body paragraph have supporting details that explain or give clear examples for
the reason? Yes / No (circle one)
6. Does the conclusion restate the thesis in a different way than the introduction? YES / NO
Is the last sentence effective in persuading you to want to learn more about the argument?
YES / NO
PART II
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.
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. You need transitions.
I don’t understand how this sentence has anything to do with your reason, etc.
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 to be more
interesting?
 Does the writer give a clear thesis that includes a suggestion + 3 reasons for evidence? If not,
what is missing?
Ideas and Organization
 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
extra 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 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 restate the thesis and leave the reader thinking?
 How could the conclusion be stronger and/or more effective?