Peer Review

Purpose:

Students should be able to identify parts of the review and revise.

Process:

Directions: Get into pairs and exchange review papers. First just read the review once, not taking notes. Then, read over the questions and answer the questions below. Finally, discuss your findings with your partner.

1. Underline the thesis. Does the thesis provide an evaluation of the object being reviewed? Is this evaluation positive or negative? How do you know this?

2. Does the evaluation summarize or describe the subject thoroughly? (Where might the summary or description be unnecessary or unrelated to the main idea?)

3. Where does the writer support broad evaluative claims with specific details about the subject? Are there any places where there are specific details that don’t support a particular claim (a detail that is not necessary, perhaps)?

4. Are the evaluative claims important to the audience? Are these points of criteria that the audience cares about?

5. Point out any places where the paragraphs shift without a smooth transition.

6. Point out paragraphs that have excellent details to support a single point of criteria.

7. Does the reader gain information or value from reading this review?

8. Consider the following technical aspects to the paper: (Circle each area of concern)

· What sentences contain wordy phrases

· Where can the writer change linking verbs to active verbs

· Where is the writer overusing the words “I” and “You”

· Where is the writer using passive voice