FRESHMAN RESEARCH PAPER PEER-EDITING

Your name: ____________________________________

Name of paper’s author: ______________________________________

THE BIG PICTURE

1. Does it have an introduction? ________
2. Does it have four body paragraphs? ________
3. Does it have a conclusion? _________
4. Does it have an annotated bibliography? ________
5. Is it double spaced? _______
6. Is it in 12-point Times New Roman? _______

THE INTRODUCTION
1. Does it have a hook? _________ Are you enticed and want to read the rest of the essay? _______
2. Does it contain historical context? _______ Does it give who/what/when/where? _______
3. Does it have a thesis statement that
a. addresses the critic (“counter-argument”)? ________
b. contains a central argument (the claim!)? ________
c. give the vehicles (the two PERSIA GEMs)? ________
i. what are they? ___________________ and _____________________
d. (optional) have a focus statement that previews the four themes of the essay? _______
i. (optional) what are they? _____________________, ______________________,
______________________, ________________________
4. OK. Now that we have taken a gander at the introduction, give it a score: 1 2 3 4 5
a. If you gave this introduction anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions on how to
improve! ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH

1. What is the theme of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________
a. Does this theme relate to the first PERSIA GEM the author mentioned in the thesis statement? How?
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the first piece of evidence? _______________________________________________________
3. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the second piece of evidence? ____________________________________________________
5. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. (optional) What is the third piece of evidence? ______________________________________________
7. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Does this paragraph have a transition? _________
9. Now, rate this paragraph: 1 2 3 4 5
a. If you gave this paragraph anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions on how to
improve! ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH

1. What is the theme of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________
a. Does this theme relate to the first PERSIA GEM the author mentioned in the thesis statement? How?
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the first piece of evidence? _______________________________________________________
3. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the second piece of evidence? ____________________________________________________
 5. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. (optional) What is the third piece of evidence? ______________________________________________
7. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Does this paragraph have a transition? _________
9. Now, rate this paragraph: 1 2 3 4 5
a. If you gave this paragraph anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions on how to
improve! ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

THIRD BODY PARAGRAPH

1. What is the theme of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________
a. Does this theme relate to the second PERSIA GEM the author mentioned in the thesis statement? How?
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the first piece of evidence? _______________________________________________________
3. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the second piece of evidence? ____________________________________________________
5. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. (optional) What is the third piece of evidence? ______________________________________________
7. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Does this paragraph have a transition? _________
9. Now, rate this paragraph: 1 2 3 4 5
a. If you gave this paragraph anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions on how to
improve! ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

FOURTH BODY PARAGRAPH

1. What is the theme of this paragraph? ______________________________________________________
a. Does this theme relate to the second PERSIA GEM the author mentioned in the thesis statement? How?
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the first piece of evidence? _______________________________________________________
3. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the second piece of evidence? ____________________________________________________
5. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. (optional) What is the third piece of evidence? ______________________________________________
7. Find the analysis. Is it there? __________ Briefly, what is it? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Does this paragraph have a transition? _________
9. Now, rate this paragraph: 1 2 3 4 5
a. If you gave this paragraph anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions on how to
improve! ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

THE CONCLUSION
1. Does the author remind the reader of the thesis statement by rephrasing or rewording it? _________
2. Does the author point out the big issue or idea? _______
a. Briefly, what is it? ______________________________________________________________
3. Does the author make a connection to the world today or human nature in a relevant manner? ________
a. Briefly, what is it? ______________________________________________________________
4. Now, rate this conclusion: 1 2 3 4 5
 a. If you gave this conclusion anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions on how to
improve! ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Does the bibliography contain at least seven sources? _________
2. Does this list of sources have a variety of sources (in other words, not just Web sites, etc.)?
_________
a. Briefly, give a breakdown of the number and type of sources (ex., 4 book).
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Does the bibliography say Works Cited at the top? ________
4. Does the annotation
a. give a brief summary of the article, source or parts of the book used? ________
b. assess the helpfulness of the source (and does not use the word “helpful” repeatedly)? _______
c. tell how the author used the source? ________
5. Now, rate this annotated bibliography: 1 2 3 4 5
b. If you gave this annotated bibliography anything other than a 5, give the author constructive suggestions
on how to improve! ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

PHEW! You’re almost there! 

Finally, flip to the back of this peer-editing sheet to find the grading rubric for this essay. Read through it and use it score
the essay.