Our first evaluation of the “Chelkash” paragraph was an analysis of the language, or style we used in our writing. Now we’re going to look at the structure, or order that we used in responding to the prompt, or question.

First, in the same peer-editing circles, read through the revised papers. As we did the first round, have nothing in your hands save the paper—no marking of any kind on the paper. Second, re-read the papers. During this round, you will want to write a bulleted list of sentences in the paper, not so much describing what the writer says, but the PURPOSE of each sentence. Some possible descriptions you might use:

main idea, or claim about what we learn from the story;
plot summary sentence, setting up quote;
direct quote from story;
supporting explanation of writer’s idea;
detail sentence providing more depth;
contrasting idea, illustrating another view;

And so on. Your challenge, as an editor, is to evaluate what’s included in the paragraph, and more importantly, WHY the writer has included that sentence. Write your bulleted list in the margins of the paper, or on the back of the paper. If possible, include it on the front. When done, initial your list. BEWARE: once a few lists have been provided, you may be tempted to look at and to copy their lists. AVOID doing so. It’s perhaps useful to compare your analysis to others, once complete. But try to make your analysis your own, without the influence of others.