PEER REVIEW

You should post your peer review as a reply to the same thread as your classmates draft. Read the writers memo from your classmate to see where they want you to focus in your review. You should write your review as continuous prose, including quotations from the draft when and where appropriate. Consider the following as your draft your review:

Your review should primarily focus on content and on overarching or global issues.
Pay attention to whether the piece makes sense first and foremost whether you understand the intention of the author. If the text or author’s intention is confusing or unclear, how might this be improved?
How well does the author respond to the assignment? If you want, you can always quote the assignment sheet too. If this author is “missing the point,” so to speak, how might they revise their work?
Respond to the main ideas in the text first (this is the global component of your analysis); and then move to more local issues, such as the distinct points and ideas articulated in individual paragraphs or sections. Remember to quote the draft when and where possible so that the author knows what you are referring to.

Ask questions and use paraphrasing
So that the writer knows what you are getting from their work, paraphrase their points as you understand them restate their ideas in different words and in short form. This can sometimes be the most useful part of peer review, because it allows the writer to see how they are being understood and reflect on how certain ideas or points which they might find intuitive can actually be obscure or difficult to grasp. Remember when paraphrasing to be polite and tactful. For example, when youre responding to an ambiguous or difficult passage, introduce your paraphrases with questions and with different alternatives: When you say XYZ in the fourth paragraph, do you mean ABC or 123?
It might also be useful to provide a final longer paraphrase at the very end of the peer review, summarizing their whole argument or idea as you have understood it.

Think about structure and organization
If a paragraph or section seems too long or too complex, make a note of where a paragraph break might go.
Suggest rearrangement of ideas or points if appropriate but be sure to explain your intention behind these revision suggestions as well.
Note places where the transitions between ideas are unclear; also, suggest ways to make the transitions better.

Keep comments on grammar minimal unless explicitly requested to make them. If, however, there is a “tick” or pattern in the author’s writing that is distracting or confusing please note it and include a suggestion for improvement.

GIVE ADVICE/SUGGESTION. MAKE COMMENTS ON MY PEER’S WRITING.