Critically thinking about your draft

Critically thinking about your draft. You have two hours to complete this, and I expect that it will take the full two hours.

Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper as you are revising. . .

1. My thesis is
2. Readers will care about my thesis because
3. I care about my thesis because
4. Every essay exists as part of a much larger conversation. How is your essay contributing to the conversation?  Be specific and detailed, referencing other articles on this topic.
5. What terms do you define in your essay? Where did you get the definitions you are using?
6. Each time you use a source in your essay, write a one to two sentence reason why you used the source where you used it. Remember the list I handed out. Draw from this list AND indicate why you chose to paraphrase or quote the source. Make sure that you include at least three of these justifications on this sheet. Number the sources in the document and then use those numbers to explain each source.
7. Now, look at your sources, how do you address the issue of whether your essay is a justified belief?
8. Explain how your research influenced your thinking.
1. If your thinking has changed, what changed it?
2. If your thinking has not changed, how did what you learned support your original opinion?
3. If you're not sure about your opinion, what information might you need to form an opinion?
   d. How much of your thinking is vague, muddled, inconsistent, inaccurate, illogical, or superficial?  Identify at least one instance and fix it.
9. My essay shows curiosity when I
10. My essay shows critical thinking when I
11. I use analysis when
12. Define your concepts and discuss your method. Analysis is about examination and synthesis: investigating components, identifying their qualities, strengths, and weaknesses, and connecting those in a coherent manner, demonstrating their relevance and importance for the whole. Always question content and relevance!
13. Look back at your three perspectives from “confusion to clarity” assignment. How do you address those different perspectives in your essay?
14. My essay shows creativity when I
15. One thing I left out of my essay was________________________. I left it out because
16. I think this essay still needs
17. The greatest weakness is
18. How could I fix the weakness?
19. Look at the comments I have given you on previous essays. Select at least two weaknesses I have identified. Write them down and explain how you corrected them for this essay.
20. Now, exchange your essay with someone and grade the other person’s essay making comments in the margins. Make sure to put your name on the essay you grade.