EAP: Zero Draft Feedback Form

(TESOL Worksheets--EAP Research Essay)

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[The English for Academic Purposes materials I have been working out of mandate the students complete 4 drafts: the first one is a self-editing, the second one is peer editing, the third one is feedback from the teacher, and the fourth draft is the final version.  I believe this is the standard process for many EAP programs.

In theory I like this system, but the problem I 've been running into was that many of the students' papers had major structural problems that should have been corrected earlier.  As a result, many of the students would spend the first couple drafts polishing up their sentences and grammar, only for me to tell them at the 3rd draft that many of their main points did not actually fit their thesis, and that the paper would have to be completely re-written.  It was extremely discouraging for the students to have to completely start over at the 3rd draft.

In order to avoid this problem, I've starting introducing a zero draft.  I read the paper quickly just to make sure the student is on the right track, and that all the main points in the paper are appropriate.  Then, once I've signed off on the organization of the paper, we do the self-editing draft and the peer-editing draft.

Students are told repeatedly in class that I will not be checking for grammar or vocabulary on the zero draft.]

Rough Rough Draft Feedback Form

[Your teacher is going to read your paper for issues of general assignment completion, organization and comprehensibility.  At this point, grammar, vocabulary, register, and other issues are still your responsibility.]

Essential Features

Does the essay have:

                An introduction?  Yes____  No____

                At least 2 or more main points? Yes____  No____

                A conclusion? Yes____  No____

                A bibliography? Yes____  No____

                In text-citation? Yes____  No____ Some, but not adequate ____

Organization

                Is there a clear thesis statement in the introduction? Yes____  No____

                Is there an outline of structure following the thesis statement? Yes____  No____

                If yes, does the outline of structure in the introduction follow the order of the main points in

                                the body? Yes____  No____

                Are there any paragraphs that are unclear or difficult to understand? Yes____  No____

               

                (If yes, which ones?_____________________________)

                Are there any paragraphs that contain more than one main point, and should be divided into

                                separate paragraphs? Yes____  No____

               

                (If yes, which ones?_____________________________)

                Are there any paragraphs which appear to be off-topic, or don't fit in with the rest of the

                                essay? Yes____  No____

                                (If yes, which ones?_____________________________)

                Are there any places in which the transition between ideas is unclear or confusing?

                                Yes____  No____

                                (If yes, where? _____________________________)

Note:

This symbol, ¶, means paragraph.  So for example if your teacher writes ¶ 1, it means paragraph 1.  ¶2 means paragraph 2.  Et cetera.