In-Class Peer Review

Peer Review Instructions

• Leave feedback on the paper using Canvas (see instructions at the bottom of this page). 

• Leave AT LEAST one comment that...

  • is about a high- or middle-order concern that could use improvement, such as organization, details, paragraph structure, using examples, flow, transitions, etc. (See High and Middle Order Concern section below for more on this.)

  • includes an example of a spot in the paper that demonstrates this area that could use improvement. 

• Leave AT LEAST one comment about an area of the paper that is working well. Try to connect this to a high- or middle- order concern. 

• Do NOT leave feedback on later order concerns, like grammar, spelling and mechanics unless there are issues that are getting in the way of readability.

  • • For example, if there so many issues that you're having problems following the point). 

    • If you do leave a comment about an issue impacting readability, only leave one comment to explain the issue. 

    • Do NOT edit the paper/fix their grammar, spelling, etc. 

Additional Information

• Focus on helping one another with ideas for how to improve the paper. 

  • • You do not need to tell the author how to “fix” the paper; just note areas that could be improved with revision. 

    • Don't worry about knowing the right terminology to use for the comments. You can leave feedback as a reader. In other words, comment on the things you notice as a reader instead of trying to focus on how to fix it as a writer. 

• Use feedback sandwiches when possible (from the reading "In-Class Peer Review")

• Leave high and middle-order concern feedback ONLY. See the "High and Middle-Order Concerns" section below for things to look for during peer review. 

  • • • Do not leave grammar/spelling feedback.

      • Exception: For a consistent issue (like run-ons or fragments) that impacts readability or flow, you can mark it up ONCE. (i.e. let them know it’s a trend you notice in the paper). 

• For in-person classes: you can also talk to each other about the papers, but feedback must also be left on the paper. 

High- and Middle-Order Concerns

• High Order Concerns: The Big Stuff

  • High-order concerns are things like assignment requirements, overall organization, audience, purpose, & genre.

  • Some things to look for:

    • • Does the paper meet the requirements for the assignment, such as covering the prompts and using evidence from their genre samples? I recommend that you re-read the assignment sheet (particularly the prompts) before starting peer review). 

      • Is the paper written in the genre of an academic analysis essay? Does it seem to be written for an appropriate academic audience?

      • Does the order in which ideas are presented in the paper make sense? Does the paper stay on-topic? 

  • Leave feedback on any of these areas that could use improvement. 

• Middle Order Concerns: The Effective Writing Stuff

  • Middle-order concerns includes things like organization, flow, transitions, use of evidence in paper, paragraph structure, development of ideas

  • Some things to look for:

    • • Are the paragraphs well-developed? (do the paragraphs all have TED?) Are claims supported by evidence from the genre samples (quotes, descriptions, or screenshots)? 

      • Are there transitions in the paper to connect the ideas together? Does it feel choppy or disconnected?

      • Are there sentences that are too long, awkward, or hard to read? 

  • Leave feedback on any of these areas that could use improvement.