(Developed
by Eileen Crowe, UNCA Writing Center)
1.
What are the strongest aspects of this paper? What really works?
2.
What are its weakest aspects?
3.
Where were you confused?
4.
Find, underline, and evaluate the thesis statement. Does it clearly
indicate the paper’s focus and purpose? Does
it accurately summarize the content of the essay?
5.
Is the focus clear? Do all the paragraphs stay on target with the thesis?
If some ideas seem random or irrelevant, suggest omitting them. If the writer
has not developed a point or an idea as fully as possible, suggest possibilities
for more full development.
6.
Should the writer add (or omit) details to make the meaning more clear?
7.
Suggest changes in word choice or paragraph order that would make the
paper more effective.
8.
If the writer has used abstract or general terms, suggest ways to make
them more concrete.
9.
Is the title appealing? Suggest an alternate that would make someone want to read this essay.
10.
To the best of your ability, check for and point out mechanical errors,
wordiness, and inaccurate citations.
Each writer will read his/her paper aloud in turn.
You will thenHUM 214 Handouts address the 10
peer review questions, meaning you will privately make notes on the paper you
are reviewing. Finally, you will share your comments with the author.
Muy Importante: Authors, this is not where you defend or justify
anything. Your response is to
listen and say thank-you. That’s
it: just “Thank-you.” If you
feel your work has been misinterpreted, make note of that and try to be clearer
on your rewrite/final draft.
Author:
April 11th you will hand in your first draft to Connie and you will
give a copy to your peer reviewer. April
27th you will hand in your final draft ALONG
WITH the edited draft and comments made by your peer reviewer.
The peer reviewer’s name will be on those comments.
Peer
Reviewer: You will receive a first draft, typed, double-spaced, which will be
the focus of your peer review. Using
the ten questions above, you will address each of the questions and provide
meaningful, generous feedback that will improve the paper you have been given.
Write directly on the person’s paper.
Respond directly to questions 1-3 on a separate sheet rather than
assuming that the totality of your comments will essentially answer those three
questions. You will receive the
draft no later than April 11th.
Return the reviewed paper and comments to your reader no later than April
17th (in lecture). A
thorough peer review—one which addresses each of the ten questions and
includes responses to 1-3 is worth 10 points to the reviewer.