Teaching CO300 Writing Arguments

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Writer’s name

Reader's name and telephone number

Ask the writer what questions or concerns he or she has about the paper. Read the paper carefully and respond to those points before you complete the rest of this worksheet.

1. Note here the audience for the paper you're reviewing. Be as specific as possible. If the writer has not targeted a specific audience, brainstorm together for ways to specify the audience.
2. What is the focus of this paper and why is that focus appropriate for the target audience? Look both at focus and purpose as you consider ways to improve the match between writer, reader, and argument.
3. Is the claim adequately focused--narrow within manageable/defensible limits? Why or why not?
4. Do you feel the writer needs to add any qualifiers or exceptions to avoid over-generalizing the claim? If yes, explain.
5. Are the writer’s reasons sound in logic, and do they follow logically from the claim? Why or why not?
6. Can you think of any additional refutations the writer could add?
7. Where has the writer used effective evidence or detail? Where might the writer include more evidence? (If you see gaps in the information provided, be sure to point out those gaps to the writer. Also, take a moment to jot questions on the paper that would help the writer see where and what detail to add.)
8. Is the paper interesting to read? Why?
9. Has the writer cited appropriate and unbiased sources of information? Are quotations integrated into the text? Are the citations clear? Do you see any places where the writer needs to cite a source but now doesn't? Point those out to the writer.