Evaluating What Others Have Written

Assume the following:

• We aim to produce pieces of writing that are clear, coherent, and convincing; we want others to tell us, when it really matters, whether and to what extent we have accomplished these objectives.
   
• Your peer (the author of the piece of writing you evaluate) is intelligent, competent, sincere, and, like yourself, occasionally worthy of respect and useful criticism. Be charitable in your interpretation of what they are claiming, i.e., you should assume that they, like yourself, are believers of truths and lovers of the good.
   
• Your peer wants you (their reader) to suggest ways to improve their written argument.
   

Evaluate essays on the basis of the following criteria

CLARITY

Is each statement clear? Does each sentence express one obvious proposition or claim? If any statement is not clear, or if you do not understand exactly what they are saying, then place a "?" in the margin next to the problematic sentence.

COHERENCE

What is their thesis? That is, is their conclusion, which is their overall main point expressed by their entire paper, obvious? Accurately but briefly state their conclusion, as you see it. Do all of their statements, taken together, express and support a clear conclusion? Does anything said seem irrelevant, obviously false, dubious, or disconnected in any way from the main point of the paper? Grade overall coherence on a scale from A to D, A being the best (totally coherent), D being the worst (totally incoherent).

CONVINCINGNESS

Is their position convincing? Do you accept their thesis on the basis of what they say in their essay to support it? State "convincing" or "unconvincing" at the end of the essay depending upon whether you find that they have produced a convincing argument in that piece of writing.

Briefly explain your evaluation, but do not merely complain about the writing or disagree with the conclusion of the argument. Be constructive by suggesting how they could make their paper better. What can they do to improve the overall clarity, coherence and convincingness of their essay?

Assume responsibility and take credit for what you do. Please print your full name at the bottom of the last page of the paper you evaluate.

scottmerlino.com