 |
Checklist for Final Review: Position Papers
Once you have made your review draft as complete and polished as possible, have it reviewed by one
or more people who understand the principles (analyzing content, engaging readers, and so on) that
you have been working with in this chapter.
- Give the reviewer a copy of your draft, one he or she can make notes on.
- Give the reviewer a copy of your context analysis. If necessary, revise that analysis before giving it to the reviewer.
- Ask the reviewer to begin his or her response by answering the following question: Given what I say in my context analysis, how likely does it seem that my arguments will be persuasive to the audience I am trying to reach?
- Ask the reviewer to adopt the perspective of the audience described in your context analysis and then use the following checklist in commenting on your work.
- In my context analysis, please highlight any statements that give you a good sense of the knowledge,
values, and needs of my intended audience. Please indicate any statements that need to be clarified.
- In my context analysis, please highlight any statements that give you a good sense of the circumstances,
purposes, and expected format for my position paper. Please indicate any statements that need to be clarified.
- In what specific passages have I developed my topic thoroughly, especially by
(a) providing reasons and evidence that my audience will see as persuasive,
(b) anticipating and responding to objections or questions my audience is likely to raise, and
(c) making appropriate appeals?
- In what passages could I make my paper more persuasive? What strategies might I use to do this?
- What portions of my introduction seem likely to engage the interest of my intended audience? What are some strategies
that might make the introduction more engaging?
- How would you describe the voice I have created? At what points does that voice seem appropriate, given my intended
audience and topic? What strategies might help me make the voice clearer or more appropriate?
- What are some words or phrases that provide a clear structure for my position paper, making information accessible,
creating clear expectations for readers, and indicating links between paragraphs or larger sections of text? What strategies
might I use to make the structure of my position paper clearer?
- How does the conclusion of my position paper reinforce or extend the main claim I am trying to make? What strategies
might I use to make my conclusion more effective?
- If the position paper includes photographs or other visual elements, what do they contribute to the persuasiveness of
my argument? Do they have appropriate captions and/or explanations in the text?
 return to Worksheets Index
|
