Peer Critique: Academic Research Paper
You will read your partner's paper TWICE.
On the first read through, if questions about the paper's content occur to you as you read, please write those on your partner's draft. Do not make statements, do not mark through your partner's words and rewrite, and do not mark grammar and mechanical errors.
On the second read through your peer’s draft , answer each of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Offer as many details as possible. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES. Simple “yes” and “no” answers are not acceptable.
Your response must be typed. This is not a test to see if you have done things “correctly”; rather, this is an opportunity for you to receive responses and feedback about what you have written from a reader who is familiar with the goals of this assignment.
After you have finished with your response, make sure your name is on the critique you have written. You will then provide the author with a copy, and the author will read it and make necessary revisions to their paper.
You should also upload a copy of your completed crtique to the appropriate folder in Ulearn.
1. What do you think of the title? Is it interesting, informative, and unbiased? Does it preview the ENTIRE content of the author's essay? Suggest ways the author might improve this.
2. Read through the introduction and assess the thesis. Is it clearly stated? If you have trouble identifying it, please say so. Identify the specific sentence that you think directly states the thesis. Is this thesis qualified?
3. Does it preview the entire content of the author's essay? Does it provide adequate background info concerning the topic and preview the essay's main points? Is there a "so what" statement in the intro that attempts to emphasize the importance and relevance of the topic to the reader?Suggest ways the author may improve this.
4. Now, read the conclusion; When read together, do they form ONE complete thought? How so/How not? Explain.
5. Is the thesis well supported in the body of the essay with specific evidence? How so/how not? Indicate one paragraph in which the writer’s evidence is strong. Then find one paragraph in which the writer needs more evidence. Refer to specific sentences or passages to support your response. Explain your reasoning. What additional kinds of evidence (personal experience, testimony from authorities, statistics, specific examples, etc) might the writer use in this paragraph? Explain.
6. Number the paragraphs in the writer’s essay and then describe, briefly, the purpose or main idea of each paragraph: paragraph one introduces the problem, paragraph two gives the writer’s personal experience with the problem, etc. When you finish, explain how the writer might improve the organization of the essay.
7.What passages were clearest? Where were you most confused? Refer to specific sentences or passages to support your response. How and where could the writer make the draft clearer?
What passages were clearest? Where were you most confused? Refer to specific sentences or passages to support your response. How and where could the writer make the draft clearer?8. Does the author's conclusion adequately summarize the main points found in the body of the essay? Is there a restatement of the thesis? Is there a "so what" statement in the conclusion that attempts to emphasize the importance and relevance of the topic to the reader?
9. Does the writer clearly introduce each source the first time it is used? Does the author provide at least two of the following: author's name, title of the work, journal/newspaper/magazine title, or author's credentials?
10. Does the author cite each source properly? Are there citations afte every single direct quote? Does the author cite at the end of each paraphrase?
11. Does the writer have a works cited page? Is it formatted properly? Are all sources cited in the paper found on the works cited page?
12. Is the author's tone fair and balanced? Does the author avoid the use of argumentative language and appear to avoid inserting their direct personal opinion? Does the author always make use of qualifers and signal phrases/author tags (every sentence must use one or the other)? Are there any areas in the draft where you are unsure where the information came from? Note any changes that are needed.
13. Describe the essay’s intended audience. How do you know? What clues does the author give you? Avoid the use of contractions, informal language or slang, or the first person (“I”)? How so/how not? Explain.
14. Add any editing suggestions you might notice while you’re reading.
15. Revision plan. List three key changes that the writer should make during the revision.
16. What additional suggestions can you give the author?
