It's hard to write a good paper about a bad topic. That's why ... - English

(Note: This set of workshopping questions was designed to encourage students to reconsider concepts from
specifics texts as they workshop each other’s work. To complete this assignment, students spend a few days
reading a peer’s essay and responding to each of these questions in depth. You might opt for different
questions—or a different amount of questions—if you plan to have students read and respond to drafts
during a single class period.)
Research Paper Workshop Worksheet Rhetoric 105
1). Read the first paragraph only (or until you reach the thesis statement) and stop. Now,
write the thesis statement in the space below, paying careful attention to the language of
the statement as you write it.
2). Now that you’ve copied the thesis statement on the page, take a moment to review the
introduction, but no more. Based on the introduction and the current thesis statement,
what exactly do you think this essay is going to be about? Be as specific as possible in
your prediction. Use the specific language of the intro—the words, the details, the tone,
etc—to support your prediction. Be sure to indicate what you see as the “keywords” for
the argument.
Once you’ve finished your prediction, proceed to read the remainder of the paper. Mark
notes on and around the text as you read. When you’re done reading, answer the
following questions. Answer each question as clearly, thoroughly, and thoughtfully as
possible.