To make the most of feedback, you need to focus your potential reviewer's
attention to your specific writing concerns. I suggest that you write a letter requesting the types of feedback you would
like, rather than making a general request such as "Would you please read this and let me know what you think?"
Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you solicit feedback:
1. What am I trying
to achieve with this paper?
2. Who is the audience for my paper? (For instance, what can I assume my audience
already knows?)
3. What other feedback/advice have I received on this paper? What changes, if any, did I make
in light of the feedback I received?
4. What are my top concerns about this draft? Am I concerned, for example,
with the main idea or claim, supporting argument(s) or evidence, organization, use of sources, the grammar, sentence structure,
style, introduction, conclusion, or something else?
5. What do I usually struggle with as a writer?
6. What else would I like my reviewers to know about my draft or myself as a writer (such as particular strengths or weaknesses)?
Once you have worked through these questions, write a letter to your potential reviewer in which you describe
the goals and context of your writing, and then ask for specific feedback.
back to Writing Module #3