Prof. Todd Comer's writing resources
"No sooner do we come into this world than bits of us start to drop off." -- Gustave Flaubert
Editor's comment sheet
Typed comment sheets addressing the following questions are to be given to the professor by the beginning of each workshop day. A hard copy should be given to the writer after his or her essay has been workshopped. You will need two copies of each ECS you fill out on the day of the workshop. The best way to complete this handout is to copy and paste it into a MS Word document. I also have provided a PDF version and Word version for download.
Editor's (your) Name:
Writer's Name:
1. Read, without stopping, for a first impression. What is your sense of the overall strengths and weaknesses of the draft at this point?
2. Looking at the essay as a whole, what thesis (main idea) is advanced? Does it adequately "cover" all the main points discussed in the body of the paper? Is it too broad and general? Too narrow? Who do you think the intended audience is? Suggest any changes.
3. Analyze the introduction. Is it catchy? Does it arouse the reader's interest? Does it make clear the essay's purpose and focus? Suggest any ways the author could make the introduction more focused, vivid, and interesting.
4. Were there any points at which you were confused about the subject or focus of the paper or its sections? Where?
5. Is the paper developed with enough detail, evidence, and information? What seems most vivid, clear, and memorable? Where does the language seem clumsy or bland?
6. Do the points follow one another in an appropriate sequence? Should the writer consider rearranging/combining/dividing paragraphs or clarifying connections?
7. Is there material now omitted which the author should include, or extraneous material present which should be omitted? (that is, not enough info or too much).
8. Is the concluding paragraph effective? Does it too obviously re-state the thesis in a way that is redundant and boring? Suggest any changes.
9. Reread the essay requirements handout. Does the essay meet all the requirements? If there is a grading rubric attached to the assignment, please leave detailed information for each grade category. Include your response on a separate sheet. BE DETAILED.
10. For research essays, is formatting style and citation (MLA) appropriate and fully integrated? Is source material integrated and plagiarism avoided throughout?