Use the following questions as a guide for your response. Follow the final question to write your commentary in paragraph form.

1. Find the controlling idea--the writer's focus, thesis statement, or purpose. Is this clearly stated? Does the title reflect the purpose?

2. Does the draft follow and support the controlling idea? Are all the paragraphs related to it?
Does the writer use specific and adequate details and words to illustrate the main point?

3. Note the introduction and conclusion. Are they smooth and relevant?

4. Is the content appropriate for the intended audience?

5. Do you see a logical structure or order to the essay and does each paragraph have a clear purpose?

6. If sources are used, are they correctly cited? Is the Works Cited list (if required) adequate and written according to MLA Style Guide?

7. Note any sentence or passage that is particularly well stated as well as any that seems confusing or weak in structure.

8. Summarize what you learned from the paper, identify its best features, and suggest revisions.