Research Paper

Reader____________________________

Peer Review Guide

Author____________________________

 

AT HOME

As you read each paper, write comments and corrections in the margins. Respond to all the questions below for each of the papers in your group. Your group discussion of each paper will not be based on the responses to these questions alone. Instead these forms will be used by the author during his/her revision process. For this reason, be as descriptive and specific as possible. Avoid saying merely that something was "good" or "vague." Remember, keep a copy of your comments to add to your portfolio. (You will have to develop a plan for making duplicate copies of the competed forms, one for the author, one for the reader.)

 

  1. What is the main argument of the paper? Is this the same as the thesis?

    2.  

     

  2. How is the paper organized? Outline the structure of the paper and its paragraphs.

    3.  

     

  3. How well did the author use analysis of the building’s formal attributes as evidence for the argument? Is there enough analysis and description of the building’s characteristics? Are the conclusions based on this evidence logical? Mark one problematic formal analysis passage. Make some suggestions for improvement.

    4.  

     

  4. Is the introduction effective at expressing the main focus of the paper? Does it move from general to more specific observations? Does it convey the organization of the paper?

    5.  

     

  5. Is the conclusion effective at pulling ideas of the paper together? Does it relate to the introduction without mechanically repeating it? If yes, describe why it is successful. If no, make some suggestions for improvement.

    6.  

     

  6. Specifically, what should the author’s priorities be in revising the paper?

 

 

IN CLASS

  1. Take turns reading the first sentence of your papers aloud. After each author has read his/her sentence, answer these questions: What does the sentences convey about the focus of the paper? What material does the reader expect to find in the paper based on the topic sentence?
  2. Take turns discussing each paper using the following statements as a guide.
    1. Intro/conclusion: Discuss the introduction and conclusion. How well do they convey the meaning of the paper and pull the paper together?
    2. Paragraph structure: Do the paragraphs flow from one to the next? Are there transitional sentences?
    3. Organization: How is the paper organized? How is the evidence grouped? Is this method effective? How could it be improved?
    4. Evidence: Did the author convey the evidence in a clearly? Is there too much or not enough evidence? Does the evidence support the thesis? Are there any points that are unclear or confusing?
    5. Analysis: Is there any irrelevant data? Is the evidence analyzed thoroughly? Is there enough opinion/author’s voice?