Golnek Writer: ___________________________________________________

The Crucible: “One-Pagers”

WRITING SELF-REVIEW *ONLY COMPLETE IF YOU WERE ABSENT ON 1/21 OR 1/22*

Learning Target: 11.7 – I can self and peer edit writing

The goal of this workshop is to introduce you to some of the basic elements that distinguish college writing from what you have
done in the past. What is perhaps most important to know about college writing is that you will always be expected to make an
argument in some way. If you are already crafting arguments in your high-school writing, it’s likely that the arguments you’ll need
to make at the college level will be more advanced.
Your professors will expect you to enter the academic conversation in their field of study, which will mean engaging with the
ideas of others while at the same time developing your own thoughts. Most academic writing requires that you distinguish your
argument against arguments commonly accepted in a field and perhaps also against arguments advanced by individual experts in
that field. Your challenge as college writers is to reflect on and develop your own voice inside this conversation.

Step 1 Directions: Read through your paper at least 2 times and give genuine, constructive feedback on each part of your essay. Use
my questions as a guide, but feel free to comment on other things you notice. You may also use your class notes on writing and
rhetorical analysis. I’ve provided our peer editing checklist and the AICE rubric for your reference as well. Writing CAN ALWAYS
BE IMPROVED – no one’s writing is ever 100% perfect. Even if you technically had all the elements of a good paper, challenge
yourself to think how could I have pushed myself to make it even better?

Introduction Paragraph:
Commentary and Suggestions for Improvement
SPACECAT, Background Information, Addressing the
Prompt

Do you properly integrate SPACECAT into the introduction?

Do you feel you have adequate background information to set
up the rest of their paper? Do you address the prompt (and
understand the prompt correctly)?

Thesis Statement

Do you have a thesis statement? Does the thesis statement make

sense? Does the thesis statement set-up an outline for the rest of
the paper? Is it the last sentence of your introduction? Does the
thesis statement address WHAT the author is doing, HOW the
author is doing it, and WHY it matters? Does the thesis
statement include specific literary techniques/devices? Does the
thesis attempt to address the “bigger picture”?

Body Paragraphs:
Commentary and Suggestions for Improvement
POINT
Golnek Writer: ___________________________________________________
The Crucible: “One-Pagers”

Do you convey the main argument of each paragraph in the first

sentence? Do you highlight one literary technique/device to
analyze per topic sentence? Do your points link back to their
thesis statement? Do your points make sense with the prompt?

EVIDENCE

Do you use textual evidence from the novel? Is your evidence in

proper MLA format? Does the evidence properly align with
your literary technique/devices? Does the evidence support your
thesis statement? Does the evidence work with the prompt? Is
there enough evidence?

EXPLANATION

Is your analysis just summary? Does the analysis effectively

explain the chosen piece of evidence? Does the analysis link
back to the point of the paragraph? Does the analysis link back
to the thesis statement? Does the analysis connect to the “bigger
picture”? Are you confused at any point?

LINK

Does the last sentence conclude/reinforce your argument? Does

the last sentence of each paragraph link back to the thesis
statement and/or the prompt? Does the last sentence effectively
transition to the next paragraph?

Conclusion:
Commentary and Suggestions for Improvement
Conclusion

Do you recap the prompt? Do you reassert your thesis statement

(but not in the exact same words)? Do you review the literary
techniques/devices you analyzed? Do you hit on the “bigger
picture” of why this matters?

If you do not have a conclusion, write one here.

Reflection Questions:
1. Although grammar, spelling, and mechanics are not the main grade for AICE essays, they are taken into consideration.
Briefly comment on the strengths/weaknesses of your grammar, spelling, and mechanics. Were your sentences clear and easy
to understand? Did your paper flow well or were there awkward sentences? Did you use appropriate vocabulary? Did you
have distracting errors with spelling, punctuation, commas, etc.
Golnek Writer: ___________________________________________________
The Crucible: “One-Pagers”

2. Overall, what is the greatest strength of the essay?

3. Overall, what is the greatest weakness of the essay?

Step 2 Directions: After reviewing your paper and answering the Step 1 questions, look at the AICE Paper 1 rubric CLOSELY and
CAREFULLY. I’ve broken it down into three separate learning targets: Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis of Language Effects,
and Organization. Grade your paper for each learning target. Explain your choices below.

Learning Target Explanation for Grade Given

Knowledge and Understanding

Analysis of Language Effects

Organization