Mr. Barnes’s Summary Comment
—your topic sentence is weak
—more factual detail would improve your essay
—note spelling and grammar corrections
C-
Ms. Kelsey’s Summary Comment
—The greatest strength of this essay is its outstanding effort to grapple thoughtfully with the question, why did the colonists rebel? Keep thinking personally, “What if I were here?” It is a great place to start.
—To make the essay work, however, you need to refine your organization strategies significantly. Remember that your reader is basically ignorant, so you need to express your view as clearly as you can. Try to form your ideas from the beginning to a middle and then an end.
In the beginning, tell what side you’re on: What made the colonists rebel— money, propaganda, conformity?
In the middle, justify your view. What factors support your idea and will convince your reader?
In the end, remind your reader again about your point of view.
Go back and revise and hand this in again!
SOURCE: Wilson and Wineburg (1993:Fig. 1). Reprinted by permission.