How to Evaluate a Literature Paper

Literature papers shed light on great works of fiction.

Instructors gauge the quality of literary papers using a standard procedure. In a perfect world, whimsy and favoritism are absent from the equation. Literature papers must rise or fall on their own merits. To evaluate essays effectively, the instructor must first have a working knowledge of the literature upon which the paper is based. After that, careful reading and thought are all that's necessary to arrive at a fair evaluation. In this context, evaluation is a broad term that includes the structure of the paper, its mechanics and its effectiveness at presenting an argument.

Instructions

1. Scan the title page of the essay. Check that formatting conforms to the assignment. Read the title and form a first impression of what the paper will attempt to communicate.

2. Read the paper once without stopping. Note any serious misspellings or grammatical errors. Get an overall sense of flow, logic and organization, but don't come to any conclusions yet. The first read-through makes the second, closer reading more effective.

3. Read the paper again, this time taking note of the thesis statement and individual points made throughout the body. Write these down on a separate paper. Check that the bulk of the paper defends the thesis in some way. Make sure the writer has used evidence from the text and not simply written off the top of his head.

4. Assess the organization of the paper. If necessary, make an outline of the paper's thesis and main points. Determine if each point logically builds upon the next, and that there are adequate transitions between paragraphs.

5. Determine the overall effectiveness of the argument the paper presents. This includes citing enough sources to back up claims and writing clear, concise prose. Ask yourself if the paper is strong and convincing, or unsure of itself.

Tips & Warnings

• The presentation of a clear thesis backed up by several points should weigh more heavily in an evaluation than any other point. Small grammar mistakes or typos should not be overly detrimental to a student's grade.

• Reward effort. Evaluate essays relative to the abilities of the writer, not according to a static rubric. In other words, a student giving their best possible effort should receive higher marks than a gifted student who only gives half their effort.

References

• University of Iowa: Criteria for Evaluating a Paper
• Sandhills Community College Department of Languages: Criteria for Evaluating a Research Paper

Resources

• University of North Carolina: Handouts and Links; Literature (Fiction)