Progressive Era DBQ

Progressive Era DBQ 1895-1920

Peer Essay Evaluation

Peer Review ID ______

Directions: Good writing demands practice of many skills. Sometimes you can learn to improve your writing by having other students read and comment on your assignments. This form enables your classmates to tell about the best parts of your writing. It will help them offer suggestions about how your writing may improve. Number each paragraph in the essay, and then follow the directions below.

I. Structure

a. What is the thesis statement? (Write it in a single sentence)

b. List the main points of the essay. (Topic sentences of body paragraphs)

II. Development

a. How does each paragraph support the thesis? What examples are used to support each topic sentence? List them.

b. How might the thesis be better supported?

III. Style

a. Are sentences clear and easy to understand? Yes No

b. How might style be improved? (Less repetition of ideas and words, more sentence variety, more specific words, transitions, etc.)

IV. Conclusion:

a. Is the thesis restated? Yes No

b. Is there a summary of the main points of body paragraphs? Yes No

V. Evaluation

a. What was the essay's greatest strength?

b. What was the essay's greatest weakness? (What is the one thing the writer needs to work on most?)

DBQ Scoring Rubric

13-15

Argument Thesis must be well developed and clearly focused; acknowledges the complexity of the question itself.

Critical ThoughtIn-depth document analysis; confrontation and discussion of conflicting sources and information; relevance of outside knowledge to the argument.

EvidenceBalanced between documents and outside information; liberal use of both; may include an occasional, insignificant error.

Writing StyleMust be well organized and well written.

10-12

ArgumentThesis must be consistent and controlled; may not be focused as in top category.

Critical ThoughtAnalysis of several sources, documentary and outside.

EvidenceConsiderable use of documents and outside information, less discussion of relationships among sources.

Writing StyleClearly organized and written; may not discuss entire question.

7-9

ArgumentLimited or partially developed thesis, which partially addresses question.

Critical ThoughtMore descriptive than analytical; may not discuss entire question.

EvidencePoor use of documents-often only a brief citation or paraphrase.

Limited outside information, which is often inaccurate; may contain major errors.

Writing StyleAcceptable organization and writing.

4-6

ArgumentConfused, unsupported, poorly developed thesis.

Critical ThoughtLimited understanding of question; ineffective or inaccurate analysis.

EvidencePoor use of documents-often only a brief citation or paraphrase. Limited outside information, which is often inaccurate; may contain major errors.

Writing StyleWeak organization and writing.

______Peer Evaluation Score