Note: these questions should not be responded to with a simple yes or no. Some will apply and others will not. For those that do apply, try to help the writer further develop his or her paper by offering constructive comments.

1. Is there a title? Is it interesting? Does it pull the reader in? Does it give a clue as to what the paper will be about?

2. Is the introduction interesting? Does it pull the reader in?

3. What are techniques used in the intro to pull the reader in (question, narration, startling statistic, etc.)? Is it effective? Can another method be suggested?

4. Is there a large enough introduction (at least two or three sentences before the thesis)? Is there a smooth and logical flow to the thesis, or does the thesis just seemed dumped in?

5. Is the thesis clear? Is it narrowed enough or too broad? Is it too narrowed? Is it developed?

6. Does the reader know what will follow after reading the thesis? Does the reader know what type of essay (comparison, definition, exemplification) will follow after reading the thesis?

7. Is there a logical flow from the thesis to the body?

DESCRIPTION
Do the details support the thesis? Is there logic to the details? Is there a reason for the details?

NARRATION
Does the story logically support the thesis? Is there a reason for telling the story? Does it actively back up, in finer details, the main idea?

EXEMPLIFICATION
Do the examples support the thesis in greater detail? Are the examples brief, hypothetical, or extended, and are they efficient as such? Are there enough examples? Too many? Are the examples representative, efficient, and well chosen? Are they clear? Are they developed enough?

COMPARISON/CONTRAST
From the thesis, is it clear whether the paper will be a comparison or a contrast? Is there a narrowed basis of comparison? Is the purpose of comparison narrowed and clear? Why should the reader know this C/C? Is it an evaluation, preference, or side-by-side, and is it clear? Are the same elements discussed in each? How is the C/C arranged? Subject-by-subject or point-by-point? Is there consistency? If S-by-S, is there a connection in the second subject to the first subject, or does it read like two separate essays? If P-by-P, is the C/C too choppy, or are there a variety of sentence structures offered?

CAUSE/EFFECT
From the thesis, is it clear whether the paper will be cause or effect? Is there a focus on a major cause/effect or are there several equal causes/effects? Is that clear? Is this method effective, or should there be a different method? Has post-hoc fallacy been avoided? If several causes/effects have been given, is there a clear connection between them (transitions)? Is there a clear order (least to most)? If a causal chain, is it clear?

DEFINITION
How is the word or term first defined? By synonym, informal, or formal? Is that clear or should there be another way? If formal, is the term clear, is there a narrowed class, and are there enough distinguishing characteristics? Are the distinguishing characteristics defined enough? Is it circular? Faulty predication? Or is there a definition by negation? If so, is there also the positive definition? What is the reason for an extended definition? Is a reason given? What kinds of ways are used for the extended definition? Are they useful, or can there be other methods?

8. Does all of the body support the thesis? Is there anything in the body that doesn't support the thesis? Is anything left out? Is the body clearly developed? Are there enough details, examples, support, etc., to efficiently back-up the thesis?

9. Transitions, transitions, transitions! Are there smooth transitions especially going from point to point in the support?

10. Overall, is the essay organized? Does it fit a particular pattern? Is there a smooth flow to the essay? Can the reader follow it? Does the pattern effectively support the thesis? Does the support seemed focused enough? Does everything make sense?

11. Overall, is the essay interesting? Does it attract the audience?

12. Are the sentences logically structured? Do they make sense? Is there enough variety to the sentences?

13. Any particular grammatical errors? Especially pay attention to comma splices, fragments, subject/verb disagreements, and unnecessary shifts in person and tenses.