Writing Homework

Reverse Outline Exercise

· Exchange papers with your partner or group members

· Read the paper through completely, making notes of high and low points. Be mindful of structure, assignment criteria, grammar, logic, and coherency

· Compose a paragraph or two discussing the strong points and those in need of improvement in the paper

· Consult the reverse outline Levels assignment sent with this template for more ideas for yourself and your partner

Set the paper aside for at least an hour

· Number each paragraph of the paper

· On a sheet of paper make two columns and head them with: what it says and what it does; then, number horizontally, allowing room for comments.

· Now, go through the paragraphs and write down what each one says and what it does. For example:

Paragraph # What it says What it does

1 Carbon emissions are dangerous States thesis

2 Gives background and facts on the issue Sets stage for paper

I will expect you to be more detailed than this, at least three sentences per paragraph. Doing this activity allows you to review the content of the essay and whether it all connects back to the thesis. Often, a writer can get lost in their prose and fill in the blanks, forgetting to notify the reader. Other times, something may sneak in that is interesting but not really applicable to the essay. Your reverse outline will make clear whether the essay is coherent and if some things are needed and others might as well be put aside.

Once you have completed your reverse outline, review the paragraph written previously. Add anything that you have learned from the reverse outline process and prepare a letter for the author of the paper.

Send the information to the author and submit to the dropbox.