writing

Peer Review Guidelines, Major Assignment #1: The Cover Songs Paper

Not every question below need be answered to write a helpful peer review. Choose those questions that seem most relevant to the paper that you’re peer reviewing, and focus most intently on them. Remember that your peer review should be at least one page single-spaced. Also, you should format your peer review as a letter written to the writer of the paper. Tonally, keep that in mind as you write, your job is to thoughtfully and specifically help and guide, not to demoralize or vaguely praise.

(1) Subject choice. Listen to the songs. Given this choice of songs, what has this writer set herself up to accomplish? In other words, what do YOU see that there is to say about these songs? Does the choice allow for much to be said, or are the two versions so similar that you would find it difficult to write this paper?

(2) Clarity of argument. Identify the thesis and give your opinion on its viability for being the centerpiece of the paper. Does it make clear what will be argued? Does it make it clear how one song differs from another? Does it make it clear why one song differs from another? Keep in mind our discussions about thesis statements from last time.

(3) Elements of Rhetoric. Has this writer thoroughly discussed at least some elements of the rhetoric of each version of the song in making this argument? If so, in how that has been done, does it seem the writer understands these concepts of rhetoric? How can you tell?

(4) Beyond the obvious. Does the writer make statements about the songs that would be obvious even without any analysis? Or, are statements made that demonstrate that the writer has done some work to arrive at conclusions about the songs that go beyond the obvious? Point to examples.

(5) Examples and evidence. What specific things from each song have been referenced as a way to substantiate the claims the writer makes? Provide your opinion on whether those examples successfully and convincingly demonstrate the truth of the claims made. Think especially about what lines from the song, what elements of the song, and what outside information have been referenced, and how.

(6) Remix and rhetoric. Is it clear that the writer understands the basic notions of remix and rhetoric that we have discussed in this unit? Point to places where this is evident.

(7) Structure and grammar. What claims, in what order, are made? Does that order of claims make sense, given the thesis? Can you imagine any parts of the paper that you think would make sense to either move to a different spot, or delete? If so, provide your suggestions for change and justify them.