Paper Evaluation Sheet (Give specific examples of what author does well and what needs improvement)

Your Name:                                                                 Author’s Name:

1. What is the author’s thesis?  Are they stating it clearly?

2. Technical Writing Skills (does the author use proper spelling, punctuation, subject-verb agreement, consistent tense, precise and proper word choice, etc.)

3. Organizational skills:  (Does the author state the thesis clearly and at the beginning of the paper?  Is the thesis supported throughout the paper with specific examples?  Do the paragraphs have clear topic sentences that relate to the material found in the paragraph?)

4. Stylistic skills (Does the author adhere to formal writing style – is there first or second-person reference, use of slang, too many quotes, quotes that are not introduced or that are strung together without introduction or interpretation, overly complex sentences, passive voice, overused words, etc.)

5. Scholarly Forms (does the author make use of the appropriate sources?  Does the author document sources when proper?)

6. Content/Argument skills (Is the thesis supported by evidence and specific examples?  Is there a solid conclusion that follows from the thesis and evidence?  Is the language specific or vague?  Is the material presented relevant to the author’s argument?)