Essay 2_Peer Critique Work Sheet_Jordan

Reviewer name: Chris Kim

Workshop Author: Jordan Hall

Essay Title: Letter to the Editor

Peer Critique – Essay 2: Persuasive Essay with Annotated Bibliography

I. Thesis

(1) What is the subject of the essay (the issue)?

-College binge drinking and blacking out

(2) What is the argument of the main opinion article the author is responding to? (complaint)

-Binge drinking in campus became normal news in University, but the increase in students who are blacking out needs to be stopped.

(3) Restate and characterize the author’s argument (thesis/pitch):

-The author believes that not only blacking out, but also binge drinking can result serious problems. The author proposes possible consequence that can be driven from binge drinking. And the author presents factual study, showing the cause of drinking to the point where it produces negative consequences.

II. Clarity, Development, and Structure

(1) Does each paragraph advance the argument with a clear transition and topic sentence? Does the topic sentence consistently present the central idea of the paragraph?

-The transition between paragraphs is smooth and effective. Topic sentence is well used to show the central idea of the paragraph. But I think there should be more clear connection between thesis and the paragraph where the author writes about the cause of binge drinking in college.

(2) How well does each paragraph use evidence to support its claims?

-The author successfully uses evidences to support the argument. Also, the author further emphasizes the argument through short personal anecdote.

(3) How well does the author introduce/contextualize quotations and paraphrases?

-I think the author well introduced the quotations, which effective support the argument the author is making.

(4) Does the essay consider at least one reasonable counterargument?

-No, I could not find any counterargument in the paper.

(5) How effectively does the essay conclude? Rather than summarizing, does it synthesize/consider counter-arguments/trace out implications or address a So What? question?

-The essay ends with possible solution to prevent binge drinking. The author proposed what the article introduced, and further develops the solution. But the last sentence of the conclusion was ambiguous. What are the previous and incorrect ideas about college life?

(6) Any final thoughts?

-I think the author did a good job writing effective persuasive essay. The introduction was interesting and the body paragraphs were well supported with thorough evidences. And if the author made more clear connection between one paragraph, the paper will be a decent paper.