Starch–poly(ethylene oxide) graft polymers were prepared in DMSO at various monomer and starch alkoxide concentrations. Complimentary and varied information on the structure of the graft polymers was obtained from NMR and periodic acid oxidation of the polymers. From the NMR spectra of the graft polymers in pyridine containing a trace of HCl, which causes shifting of the resonance of the internal CH2O protons from the terminal CH2OH protons, the polyethylene oxide content, the DPn of the grafted side chains, and the efficiency of the alkoxides were calculated. With increase of the alkoxide concentration there was a small decrease in DPn, and in the efficiency of the alkoxides in initiating graft polymerization. With increase of monomer concentration, there was only a small increase in DPn but a large increase in the efficiency, indicating the existence of transfer reactions between the growing anions and the free hydroxyl groups on the starch. The results of he periodic acid oxidation showed that with increase of alkoxide concentration there was no significant change in the per cent oxidation of the graft polymers, but with increase of monomer, there was an increase in the participation of the secondary hydroxyl groups in initiation. This supports the NMR evidence for the existence of transfer reactions leading to DPn values much lower than those calculated from [monomer]/[catalyst] ratios.