Step 3: What’s Missing?

Who should do this step? You

If you’re working with a reading partner, you can both do it.

 

Highlighting gives a quick snapshot. However, it is NOT enough to tell you what you need to do to improve your essay. The questions below might help.

 

If you’re working by yourself: Jot down some answers in response to each of the questions below. It’s also a good idea to make notes directly in your draft (for example, “more detail needed here” next to a specific paragraph, or “switch the order of these 2 events,” etc).

 

If you’re working with a partner: Go through each question together and discuss. If there are significant points of disagreement, talk them out. Include your partner’s thoughts as well as your own in your notes so you don’t forget.

 

1. Does your narrative have a logical arc? Look at your essay and identify the beginning, middle, and end of the story you’re telling. Does it feel like any of these basic parts is either underdeveloped (not enough detail or missing completely) or overdeveloped (way too much detail)? Which parts need more detail and development, and which parts need less?
2. Does the order of events make sense to the reader? Should you provide more reflection early on? Does the essay jump too quickly into reflection? How would switching order change how the essay reads (for example, if you started with the end and went backwards)?
3. Are there any parts of your narrative that don’t make sense because the reader doesn’t have the right contextual information? (For example, a reference to a place, person, event, etc. that isn’t explained)
4. Are your reflections logical, given the narrative? Does it make sense that you would have gotten these insights from the events you describe, or is the connection between narrative + reflection not strong enough yet?