Writing Process for a Documented Essay
Revising
Mechanics
Physical layout
Citations
Punctuation
Spelling
Style
Tone
Does the tone or voice shift? (examples: first person to second; formal to informal)
Does the writer sound sound pompous?
Does the writing sound too conversational?
Word choice
Is the diction (level of vocabulary) appropriate to the audience?
Are there ambiguous referents?
Are key terms repeated for emphasis?
Are there numerous indefinite pronouns? Ambiguous pronouns?
Are the descriptions appropriate to the topic?
Is the wording precise and concrete?
Sentence flow
Is there a sense of wordiness, such as tripping over long verb or noun phrases?
Are the main ideas of the sentences highlighted? Are the supporting clauses interrupting the idea flow?
Does the reader "gasp for breath" at the end of a sentence?
Are there unintentional rhymes or alliteration that work against the ideas?
Are the sentences appropriately varied?
Organization
Do the paragraphs hang from a clear topic sentence/controlling idea?
Are the transitions present and meaningful?
Does the organization flow as expected?
Content
Is the opposition addressed completely/adequately?
Are all assumptions and logic explicit or directly implied?
Are all claims support and/or qualified?
Is everything true?
Are there enough concrete examples?
Are some details too lengthy or irrelevant?
Is there too much repetition?
Do the readers have all of the needed background?
Reviewing
Consider feedback with an open mind
Review the writing situtation--Rhetorical context--of the assignment
Look at your biases
Ask questions
Solicit feedback from readers
Have others read it too you
Read it out loud
Drafting
Organization of ideas
Discovery
Exploration