Peer review

Peer Review: Questions, Guidelines, and Lexicon UW Bothell Writing Center; Professor Carol A. Shaw

Read your classmate’s entire paper before you begin. Focus on content and ideas, evidence and analysis, progression of logic, and flow of language. Then go back and address the following nine questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. In addition, make comments directly on the paper, where you have questions or suggestions.

1 What is the central theme of this paper? Paraphrase and summarize the main

points in one or two sentences.

2 What evidence or persuasive techniques does the author offer to support his or

her position? (Identify all evidence and all techniques.)

3 What are the strengths of the paper?

4 What keeps you most engaged?

5 After reading the paper, do you still have any questions on who, what, when,

where, how, and/or why?

6 What could make this paper stronger or more compelling?

7 Does anything confuse you or seem incomplete? Where would you recommend

further development?

8 Does the author cite sources in the text? Are quotations properly attributed?

9 Any other thoughts or comments? (Close with a positive note.)

Here is some terminology to incorporate in your reviews:

Depth—What are some of the complexities related to this social enterprise issue? Breadth—Do we need to consider additional arguments or points of view? Logic—Do the arguments make sense? Does the conclusion follow from the evidence? Significance—Is a particular fact or statement important to the argument? Clarity—Can you elucidate? elaborate? offer an example? Accuracy—Have you checked these facts? Is the source reliable? Precision—Can you be more specific? offer more details? Relevance—How does this relate to the issue?