Peer Editing LGs Assess the structure and strength

Peer Editing LG’s: Assess the structure and strength of a paragraph

Introduction • Identify the warrant. • Clear? Compelling? Readily acceptable? • Identify the backing. • Clear? Compelling? Specific example or general logic/philosophizing? • Should be specific example. • Identify the transition sentences. • Clear connection made between warrant/backing and main claim? • Provides details from the novel that relate the warrant/backing to the main claim? • Assess the claim • Underline the subordinating clause. • Clear? Compelling? • Avoids use of vague phrasing like “the way, ” “the dangers of…” • Too long?

1 st Body Paragraph Topic sentence • Rate the topic sentence. • • • Is there a clear claim? Is it just summary or plot based? Too broad? Too specific? Too busy? FANBOY or Subordinating Conjunction?

1 st Body Paragraph Sentences • Does each sentence relate clearly to the topic sentence? • Read each sentence one by one. After each sentence, return to the topic sentence. • Do the sentences go off topic?

1 st Body Paragraph Grounds • 4 or 5 pieces of text support? • No single words? • Unless establishing a pattern about the language. • No long blocks of quotes? • Not plot based? • Each quote is explained in order to show relevance to topic sentence. • Strong quotes provided? • Clear explanation provided?

Closing sentence • Is there an apt closing sentence? • Relates paragraph to topic sentence/main claim? • Does the paragraph end with a quote?

1 st Body Paragraph Language • Cross out any “things. ” • “thing, ” “something, ” “anything, ” “everything, ” “nothing. ” • To-Be Verbs • Is, Am, Are, Was, Were, Being, Been • Be aware of contractions • Passive Voice? • Huck is seen on the raft. Jim was affected by Huck. • Linking Verb? • He is a boy. She is a teacher. • Look for surrounding nouns to change into verbs. • Perhaps necessary? • Helping Verb? • He is riding on the raft. They were hiding from Pap. • Change to plain present or past tense? • Other fixes • Substitution • Be wary of overusing the same word like “becomes. ” • Rearrange phrases and/or clauses.

Do the same for all body paragraphs.

Organization • Is the whole novel addressed? • Chronological order? • Enough body paragraphs before the rebuttal/counter? • Or one body paragraph and then R/C? • Paragraphs too long? • Over a page, red flag • Consider splitting, even if it has the same topic.

Rebuttal/Counterargument • Smush? Or Two separate paragraphs? • If it is a smush, is there evidence provided for both? • Consider splitting? • Strong rebuttal? Phoned in? • Does the counter suffice? • Use proper rebuttal transitions? • “An alternative interpretation…” “Some people might say…” “Alternatively…”

Conclusion • No lame transition? • “In conclusion, ” “Finally, ” “At last, ” Avoid all. • Return to main claim? • Return to warrant/backing? • Strong connection to reader’s life? • No new evidence? • Red flag. No quotes. • Too long? Too short and doesn’t adequately sum up paper?