Documented Essay Workshop Worksheet
Part A. Reflection
1. Tell us about the process of arriving at the Adding to the Conversation draft. How did you produce it? Describe your process.
2. What is your favorite part of your essay? Name something specific.
3. If you had more time to produce this draft, what would you work on next?
4. Rhetorical planning:
a. Describe your imagined audience (readers) for this essay. Who are you writing for?
b. Describe your writing persona or self in this essay. How are you presenting yourself?
c. Describe your essay’s purpose.
5. What questions and/or concerns do you have for your readers? Write your main question or concern about your paper.
Part B. Peer Workshop (write a peer review for the folks in your group)
1. Describe the peer’s essay topic. How is this clear to you? Is your colleague’s approach to the paper clear to you? Explain: What is the author’s approach to the topic are they an expert, persuader, learner, fan, etc.?
2. What does your peer’s essay say to you?What do you know or understand after reading their essay?
Furthermore, describe the overall thought/feeling/impression you get from reading this piece. Do you have a sense of the peer’s target audience? Who is their reader?
3. Use of research:
Describe the balance (or lack thereof) between the author’s own voice and goals and the research the author incorporates.
Does the author remain in control of the essay? Have the sources taken over? How does the author use sources represented in the essay (to validate an argument? to provide a platform, to disagree, etc.?
Is there an attempt at MLA formatting and citing? Are there in-text citations with matching Works Cited entry for each source? Explain.
4. Does the paper have a clear thesis statement including the following?
o Topic
o Evidence: Listed in the order that the body paragraphs are laid out
o Argument
o “So, What, Who Cares”
o If not, what is missing? What would you add to complete the thesis statement?
5. Answer the questions/concerns the writer asks in his/her reflection.
Part C. Next Steps When you have received responses from colleagues, read carefully and consider the following:
1. Did your readers understand what you are trying to say in your paper?
2. Identify the most helpful comment or comments.
3. Reread your paper.
4. Reread the assignment sheet.
5. What do you plan to work on during your revision to strengthen this paper? (Peer Tutoring,
Professor conference, independent revision?) Note: This is your essay! You may choose to
incorporate or disregard feedback from your readers.
