Interpreting Stories

► If You Are the Writer. To provide focused, helpful comments, your reader must know your essay’s intended audience, your
purpose, and a problem in the draft that you need help solving. The reader must also have read the story you are writing about.
Attach a copy of the story to your draft if you think your reader may not already have one, and write out brief answers to the
following questions at the top of your draft:
• Readers: How do you think your interpretation builds on or contradicts the interpretations your readers are likely to have of the
story?
• Purpose: What specifically do you want your readers to learn about the story from reading your essay?
• Problem: What is the most important problem you see in your draft?
► If You Are the Reader. Use the following guidelines to help you give critical comments to others on essays interpreting stories:
1. Read for a First Impression. Read first to grasp the writer’s interpretation of the story. As you read, identify any passages that
are particularly convincing as well as any that seem unclear or unsupported. Remember that even if you interpret the story
differently, your goal now is to help the writer present his or her interpretation as effectively as possible.
Write a one-sentence summary of the essay’s thesis. Also indicate generally whether you think the writer’s interpretation makes
sense. Next, consider the problem the writer identified, and respond briefly to that concern now. (If you find that the problem
is covered by one of the other guidelines listed below, respond to it in more detail there if necessary.)
2. Evaluate the Thesis Statement and How Well It Forecasts the Argument. Find the thesis statement, and highlight or underline
its key terms. If you cannot find the thesis statement or cannot identify the key terms, let the writer know. Evaluate the thesis
statement on the basis of whether it makes an interesting and arguable assertion (rather than a statement of fact or an obvious
point), is clear and precise (neither ambiguous nor vague), and is appropriately qualified (neither overgeneralized nor
exaggerated).
Then skim the rest of the essay, highlighting or underlining each key term as it is brought up. If you cannot find a key term later
in the essay but you do see where the reason it stands for is developed and supported, let the writer know where the key term
should be added. If a reason introduced by a key term in the thesis statement is left out of the essay altogether, tell the writer.
Also note any important reasons that are developed in the essay but are not announced in the thesis statement.
3. Indicate Whether Each Reason Is Well Supported. Look closely at the sections where the reasons are developed. Note
whether each reason is supported adequately with textual evidence such as quotations, paraphrases, or summaries. Indicate
where support is lacking, and let the writer know if you do not understand how a particular quotation relates to the reason it is
supposed to support. Point out any passages in the story that the writer could use to bolster this part of the argument or that
undermine it.
4. Evaluate the Argument as a Chain of Reasons. Summarize briefly for the writer your understanding of how the reasons work
together to argue for the thesis. If you do not see how a particular reason fits in, say so. Also note where logical connections
linking the chain of reasons could be added, strengthened, or made more explicit.
5. Suggest How the Organization Could Be Improved. Consider the overall plan, perhaps by making a scratch outline. Note any
places where the argument is hard to follow or where transitions are missing or do not work well.
• Look again at the beginning to see if it adequately forecasts the rest of the essay.
• Look at the ending to see if it is too abrupt, repetitive, or goes off in a new and surprising direction.
6. Give the Writer Your Final Thoughts. What is the draft’s strongest part? What part is most in need of further work?