F ICTION

G-EN270 Critical Essay Feedback for:

A B C D F
FOCUS: The thesis is… GRADE
…provocative, …clear and makes …clear, but only …vague or … so muddy, inco-
insightful, and an interesting, marginally interest- confusing, or so herent, or unfocused
emphatically debatable claim. ing or debatable. obvious that it that the paper offers
expressed. carries no particular nothing meaningful
insight. to readers.
UNDERSTANDING: The ideas and content of the essay demonstrate a…
…superior, …mature …common …partial or limited …lack of
sophisticated understanding of the understanding of the understanding. understanding or
understanding of the story in question. story in question. definite misunder-
story in question. standing.

DEVELOPMENT: The body of the paper…

…makes surprising …makes convincing …is thinly but …is inadequately …underdeveloped.
& convincing use of use of quotes and adequately developed. Claims Claims go
relevant quotes and paraphrases to developed. It are “supported” with unsupported or are
paraphrases that support claims that supports claims with a few quotes or supported with
clearly & thoroughly adequately and mostly relevant paraphrases from the generalizations or
develop the thesis. clearly develop the paraphrases or text. opinions.
thesis. quotes.
ORGANIZATION:
The essay’s intro is The intro and The intro and The intro or The essay seems to
provocative and its conclusion are conclusion are conclusion are in- be without plan or
conclusion forceful. effective. Body perfunctory. Body adequate or flawed. structure. Ideas are
Body paragraphs are paragraphs develop paragraphs may be The writer seems presented in an order
tightly unified and thesis clearly and ineffectively unaware of how to that leaves the reader
develop the thesis in logically. sequenced and lack use paragraphing as confused.
sophisticated ways. internal unity. a technique for
organizing ideas.
CONVENTIONS:
Format scrupulously Format follows Some errors detract Errors in basic Frequent errors in
follows MLA, copy MLA and careful from meaning. Copy conventions are basic conventions;
is free of significant reading reveals only reveals some frequent, but common words are
error, and sentences a few minor carelessness in common words are misspelled. Many
are so well written errors. Sentences are proofing & editing. spelled correctly and sentences are
they make it easier clear and vary in Sentences are correct sentences are mostly fragmentary, run-on,
to read and length and structure. but sometimes complete. or fused.
understand the choppy, wordy, or
essay. vague.
COMMENTS
KEY to marks on your paper:

_____ = Good! More of this.

= Consider replacing or
omitting.

( ) = Consider clarifying
or tightening.

[ ] = Consider combining.