Writer:______________________________

Evaluator:___________________________

Meeting Time:_______________________

Evaluator, read the entire rough draft carefully and then answer the following questions.

1. Do you have a vivid understanding of the setting, and what its importance is? Why did the story need to be set in that particular time and place? Was it symbolic or simply realistic?

 

 

 

 

2. Does the writer develop your understanding through not only description but also dialogue? How could direct quotes show the characters better?

 

 

 

 

3. Do you understand what motivates the characters to do what they do? Are their obstacles made clear to you? D you understand their inner conflicts and fears?

 

 

 

 

4. How are the plot and subplots important? How do they affect eachother? What do they add to the story and its sense of conflict? Can you follow all of them clearly from the writer’s description?

 

 

 

 

5. Does the writer look at a single unifying theme or meaning. How does the writer make this theme clear? Does the theme seem plausible?

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Is there a clearly stated thesis statement or do you have a "The novel I choose to read" essay on your hands? Is the thesis too broad making it seem vague and unimportant?

 

 

 

 

7. Is the thesis arguable? What proof did the writer give to support this argument? What better type of proof could they have given?

 

 

 

 

8. Does the writer use textual evidence? Are quotes succinct and valuable, or does the writer seem to be using up space? How could the writer cut down these quotes without sacrificing their quality?

 

 

 

 

9. Does the writer take into account literary devices (see handout for examples). What ones did they leave or not include enough of? How would these additional devices have been useful?

 

 

 

 

10. Does the writer attempt to covey a thoughtful, well organized interpretation of the story or does this analysis have a book report feel? Where does the narration detract from the analysis?

 

 

 

 

11. Is the essay insightful and engrossing? What parts do you want to hear more about. Why do you think these parts draw you in? How could the writer use what drew you in to make other parts of the essay more effective?

 

 

 

 

12. What technique of the writer’s would you like to use in your own essay? What flaw do you want to try and find in yours so that you can fix it?