PHYLLIS YOUNG ONLY
Peer Review Sheet for the Rhetorical Analysis Essay
The paper was written by:
The peer review was completed by:
Take a moment to “post-draft” outline the draft. To do this, copy and paste the last sentence of the first paragraph, then the first sentence of paragraphs 2 onward. This should create a list of sentences that includes the thesis and the topic sentences for the paper. Paste that list of sentences here.
Looking at that post draft outline, does the thesis fit the assignment? Specifically, does the thesis statement actually evaluate how effectively the author makes use of specific rhetorical strategies? A red flag is if the thesis doesn’t mention the article in any way and if it doesn’t set up a rhetorical evaluation. Look for words like “appeals” or “logic” and “evidence” and “pathos/emotion”.
Look at the topic sentences for paragraph 2. Does it set up a summary paragraph? Ideally, the second paragraph will be an objective summary of the article that is being responded to in the paper. To start that summary paragraph, the topic sentence should present the main thesis idea of the article being responded to. Discuss how the topic sentence for paragraph 2 might be revised to do this more clearly.
Is the summary paragraph clear and concise? Do you feel you clearly understand what the author of the chosen article is arguing in that piece? Does the summary section make use of signal phrasing so that you are aware throughout that entire section that it is summary? Is this section “objective”?
Look at paragraph 3. Is this paragraph a clear analysis of the reading audience of the article the paper is critiquing? For instance, does this paragraph set up where the article was published and discuss how that publication indicates the target audience?
Do the body paragraphs each focus on one specific appeal by using keywords like “emotion”, “logic,” and “credibility”? Point to any topic sentences that don’t fit the outline provided in the assignment sheet.
Does the paper make use of specific examples to show how the writer uses actual appeals? Does the paper show how and why those examples would be effective with the target audience identified in the third paragraph of the essay?
Our main concern in this peer review is to ensure that everyone is actually writing a Rhetorical Analysis. This is why questions 1-6 focus exclusively on the thesis and main points in the paper. Use this area to point out any editing concerns or APA issues you notice with the paper.
