Persuasive Essay Peer Revision

Content• Opposition/Rebuttal (First two body paragraphs)

– Highlight (pink) the two opposing arguments• Do they thoroughly explain why these reasons,

given by the opponent , are not adequate?

• Reason to support View (3rd body paragraph)

– Highlight the Reason Yellow• Is the reason a compelling one?• Do they support the reasons with explanations,

facts, examples, details

Organization• Is paper organized in way that makes sense?

– They Say/ I Say arguments in first two body paragraphs– Third paragraph gives strongest reason to support position

• Transition words and phrases used to glue together ideas– Box transition words/phrases used at beginning of all body

paragraphs.– Box transition words/phrases used within the paragraph.

Sentence Variety

• Do they use a variety of sentences?– Look at sentence beginnings– Look at types of sentences– Are they writing mature sentences?

• Participial phrases, infinitives, absolutes• Joining sentences in variety of ways (subordinators

and coordinators)

Give them feedback for making changes!

Trash Words

• Circle trash words:– A lot, stuff, things, something, anything,

everything, you– I think, I feel, I believe, in my opinion

Muscle Verbs

• Circle the “be” verbs– am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been– Can you replace any of these with a muscle

verb?• Original Sentence: If we extend school, we would be less stressed.

• Revised Sentence: Extending school would free students from the prison of stress that shackles them.

Look at Introduction

• Start with a catchy Attention-Getter?

• Underline Thesis:– Does it Spell out the argument without listing

three reasons?– Is the writer’s position on the topic clear?

Look at Conclusion

• Does it sum up argument without repeating the exact same words?

• Does it end in a witty way, such as…– Tying with the attention-getter– Offering a solution– Making a recommendation

Overall

Have they presented a convincing argument?