76-101 Interpretation and Argument

PEER REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS (FOR

ASSIGNMENTS)

ALL

MAJOR

Overview:

It is good practice to have others read our writing to give us critical feedback
so that we can make our texts better. After all, we write for readersso why shouldnt we ask
readers to explain how they have experienced our writing? In this class, we will engage in a
peer review process that I hope you will find efficient and useful. You will work with a partner
to complete a peer review at the rough draft stage of the three major assignments.

Instructions
1. Post your draft file to the Peer Review forum on Blackboard, and access each of your
peers draft files there.
2. Using the TrackChanges feature in Word, insert comments into your peers papers. If
you dont have Word or use another program, thats fine but your comments must be
numbered so that you can refer to them in your rubric. (See below.) Your comments
should do the following at the bare minimum:
a)Respond to each distinct criteria on the rubric. Responding means that you
should identify where in the text this element or characteristic is found (for example, insert
a comment that identifies the thesis). In addition, helpful comments will elaborate on the
identification by explaining how this is working for you as a reader. (See Comment How
below and attached samples.) In the case of characteristics like grammar and mechanics
that will be present throughout the paper, focus your comments on specific areas or
instances that are notable because they are particularly strong or are areas that you
believe need work.
*Be sure that you identify the thesis, stakes, and the main point of each
paragraph.
3. After you have read and responded by inserting comments in your peers file,
complete a Peer Review Rubric form for both your peers. (See below.) In
this form, you need to:
a)Insert the number of your comment(s) that responds to each criteria. This will both
help your reader interpret your feedback, and ensure that you have been thorough.
b)Choose 3 criteria on the rubric that you would identify as Strengths and insert a
comment in the right column, beside that criteria, that explains why you think so.
c)Choose 3 criteria on the rubric that you think are important Weaknesses that your
peer needs to address, and insert a comment in the right column beside that criteria
that explains why you think so.
4. Reply to the thread in which your peer posted his/her draft and attach your peer review
file with your comments, as well as your completed peer review rubric. Insert your
completed rubric at the end of the file in which youve commented on your peers draft.
5. Upload files for each of your peers to the forum by class time on the due date.

76-101 Interpretation and Argument

NOTE: Failure to upload your draft file to the peer review forum by the due date
can result in your being excluded from the peer review process. This may mean
that
a)you lose 30 points for the peer review assignment, AND
b)you lose points for the revision criteria for your final paper.

Below is the rubric I will use to evaluate your peer reviews. (One rubric for both
reviews.)

Peer Review Rubric

Name:

The review
Includes at least one comment on each rubric criteria. (10 pts)
Identifies three strengths and includes a comment in the rubric that
summarizes why they are strong. (5pts)
Identifies three weaknesses and includes a comment in the rubric
that summarizes why they are weak. (5pts)
Provides comments written from the perspective of a reader. (5pts)
Is professional; it is written in a constructive tone, and turned in to Bb
and returned to peer on time. (5pts)
Comments

Points

Total Points
____ / 30

Peer Review Tips and FAQs

What makes a good comment? Comments should be driven by your need to understand, and should
be written from your perspective as a reader. In other words, writing a comment that says, Delete
this, wont help your peer very much. This type of comment does not give the explanation for why
your reading experience would be better if your peer removed that part of the text, and it does not
empower your peer to decide how best to address the problem. Also, giving blunt, unexplained
commands is likely to alienate your partner.
However, writing a comment that says, I dont understand why you need to elaborate these
details here. It gets in the way of your main point, and I started wondering what was the point of the
paper, is much better. This type of comment explains your experience of the text as a reader, which
helps your peer understand how his/her audience is experiencing the text and whether or not he/she is
communicating in a way that achieves his/her goals. (See also the attached sheet showing model
comments.)
Avoid Extensive Focus on Grammar, Mechanics, and Typos. The emphasis in your feedback
should be on accounting for how the argument works for you as a reader, not only pointing out every
missed period or split infinitive. Unless you notice a pattern of errors that prevent you from
understanding the text, your comments on these areas should be minimal.
My peer wrote a really good paper, so I dont have any suggestions for improvements.If
you think your peers paper is flawless, then be as meticulous in explaining how or why it is working as
you would be in giving constructive criticism. Point out all the things that are working; even if this
feedback doesnt point to needed changes, it still gives your peer information about how his/her
audience is experiencing the text and what he/she is doing to fulfill the goals of the assignment.

76-101 Interpretation and Argument

Where do I hand in the review when its finished? Per the instructions above, you will post your
completed reviews in the same Blackboard forum in which you access the files. Reply to your peers
thread and attach your file there.**Post YOUR review that YOU completed of your peers paper,
NOT the review you got back from your peer. ***