Overview

For this assignment, you’ll review two peers’ drafts by providing marginal comments and a 300-500-word letter per draft. Your feedback should highlight revision areas with actionable suggestions. How to Write a College Essay A Step-by-Step Guide.

Requirements & Instructions

READING

First read-through: No marking. Consider:

  1. Introduction: Is the thesis and motive (the “why now?”) clear? What are they?

  2. Body Paragraphs: Does each paragraph state a claim backed by specific evidence?

  3. Evidence: Spot unsupported claims. Suggest how to strengthen them.

  4. Sources:

    • Are key sources and their positions clear?

    • Does the writer create a critical conversation between scholars and their own voice?

    • Is the author’s analysis dominant (not overshadowed by sources)?

    • Do in-text citations match the bibliography?

  5. Analysis: Does the writer analyze quotes (not just summarize)? Flag summary-as-analysis moments.

  6. Conclusion: Does it evolve the thesis? Place findings in a larger context? What’s the takeaway?

  7. Format: Follows assignment guidelines? Citations/bibliography formatted correctly?

  8. Writer’s self-identified concerns: Address issues the author raised in their draft or cover letter. login ProgrammingAssignment.net.

MARKING

Use Suggesting Mode in the shared doc:

  1. Mark awkward/unclear sentences ✓ and effective points/analysis ★.

  2. Add marginal notes where confused (“Can you clarify X? I lost the connection to your thesis here”).

  3. Ask questions (“Is Source Y challenging or supporting your point here?”).

  4. Suggest specific evidence (or counter-evidence) to deepen analysis.

  5. Aim for 1–3 comments per page. Prioritize impact over volume.

LETTER

At the top of the essay, include:

  1. Greeting (Dear [Name]) and signature (—[Your Name]).

  2. Specific praise: Highlight 1–2 strengths (“Your analysis of X in Section 3 was compelling because…”).

  3. Thesis restatement: Summarize their argument in your own words.

  4. Address writer’s concerns: Respond directly to issues they flagged.

  5. Confusion points: Note where you got lost (“The transition from Idea A to B on p.4 needs smoothing”).

  6. Prioritized to-do list (2–3 items):

    • Issue + Why it matters + Suggestion
      (“Strengthen the motive in your intro—readers need clearer stakes. Try: [Example phrasing]”).

  7. Focus: Prioritize thesis, evidence, and analysis. Only note persistent grammar/spelling issues if they obscure meaning.

Suggestions for Successful Peer Review

  1. Limit focus to 2–3 high-impact revisions.

  2. Guide, don’t fix: Offer next steps—not a perfection checklist.

  3. Spot trends: Note recurring issues (“Several claims lack evidence”), not every typo.

  4. Be direct yet kind: “This paragraph distracts from your thesis—consider trimming” > “Maybe rethink this section?”

  5. Empathize: Acknowledge writing’s difficulty. Avoid harsh tones.

  6. Prompt self-correction: “Could you rephrase this for clarity?” > Editing sentences for them.

  7. Avoid over-commenting: Stick to ~1–3 comments/page.

  8. Celebrate strengths: Positive feedback motivates revision!

  9. Explain your feedback: How will fixes improve the paper? (“Adding a source here would validate Claim X”).

  10. Clarity: Never use raw highlights or “?” without context.

  11. Collaborate: Everyone brings unique insights—value each other’s perspectives.

Other Logistics

  • Place peer review letters at the top of the essay doc.

  • Post letters in the Peer Review Forum with the Google Doc link.

  • Confused by feedback? Ask your peer for clarification or discuss with the instructor.

Evaluation

Peer reviews earn credit on a 3-point scale:

  • 3 pts = Complete/Outstanding: Thorough, actionable, empathetic feedback addressing core elements.

  • 2 pts = Mostly Complete/Satisfactory: Adequate feedback but lacks depth or prioritization.

  • 1 pt = Partially Complete/Unsatisfactory: Superficial/incomplete comments.

  • 0 pts = Missing/Non-participatory.
    (Worth 3x standard TQ credit per paper)

Assignment Goals

Peer review helps you:

  1. Provide constructive feedback to improve peers’ writing skills.

  2. Deepen your own writing awareness through reviewing.

  3. Receive non-hierarchical feedback (outside student/instructor dynamics).

  4. Practice diagnosing writing issues and strategizing solutions.

  5. Step into an instructive role to own your learning.

  6. Strengthen understanding of writing as a collaborative process.

  7. Emphasize feedback’s vital role in developing as a writer.

Infographics Peer Review for Research Paper

Infographics Peer Review for Research Paper