Review Essay DRAFT Assignment

Use the Online Peer Review Guidelines. First, quickly read through the entire draft. Then, move through the draft more slowly, answering questions 1-7 from the PR Guidelines in the editing pane.  (Add comments #1 through #7 to the sidebar as you read). Your comments are available to the teacher to review and assess. Here’s the Rubric for Peer Review , questions only (use after you’ve reviewed the Guidelines).

Rubric

for Peer Review

Comment on these elements of a peer’s essay draft or Scratch Outline

:

#1 What I like best about this essay

#2 Thesis argument — present & effective?

#3 Synopsis of text — present & effective?

#4 Evidence — Assert/Support/Explain in each paragraph?

#5 Order and Logic of paragraphs sensible? Effective?

#6 Grammar errors – mention patterns only (do not correct grammar)

#7 Friendly note of advice to writer—what’s working, what to improve

To Draft EDITORS: If you receive a Scratch Outline for review, follow the same guidelines, but focus more on refining the thesis and less on commenting on the quantity and specificity of the evidence the writer proposes to submit as evidence for his or her thesis claim. In all cases, note the tone of the draft — is it appropriately formal? Is it well organized? Do you ‘get’ the main argument clearly enough? Do NOT correct grammatical or formatting errors, although you are free to mention that you believe there may be some problems with these technical issues.

ONLINE PEER REVIEW GUIDELINES for Canvas

Please read and comment on your system-assigned peers’ drafts on a larger rather than a smaller screen. Make editorial comments and questions following the guidelines below.

Before you begin, print out and read the assignment prompt. Keep it nearby. Also review the 1b Course Rubric. Then, scan through the entire draft or Scratch Outline as quickly as you can. Before entering your comments in the sidebar, put: PEER REVIEWED BY [your name].

Now, take the following steps:

1. After quickly scanning the entire draft, say something positive about what you’ve read. What do you like best about it? Put a large #1 and say “WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS ESSAY IS…”

1. Put a large #2 and the word THESIS. Then, FIND the THESIS and COMMENT on what you believe is the main argument of the essay. Is it clear and easy to find? If so, try to re-state it in your own words. {I think you’re saying, xxx.]If you like, you may suggest re-wording it or adding to it – make specific suggestions, if you have any. If you can’t find a thesis argument, SAY THAT, and maybe create one as an example of what you believe the essay is arguing. Identifying and helping clarify the main argument or thesis of the essay is a first, most important thing to do. If the essay strikes you as off topic, meaning it’s not what was assigned in the prompt, politely say so. (This is rare.)

1. Next, put a large #3 and COMMENT ON the presence and quality of a brief SYNOPSIS (summary) of the story. Is it there, is it clear, and is it very brief? Does it focus in on main elements like who tells the story, where it takes place, and who it’s about? VERY IMPORTANT: if the writer is re-telling the whole story, and that’s what most of the essay is about, say OOPS! Politely remind him or her that THIS IS NOT OK! We are writing ABOUT the story or poem, not re-telling it.

1. Next, put a large #4 and COMMENT on the EVIDENCE offered to support the thesis argument of the essay section by section or by each body paragraph. (Identify paragraphs by number.) You may need to quickly scan through the whole essay again. Does each paragraph have its own TOPIC SENTENCE {Assert) that announces the purpose of the whole paragraph? Are there SPECIFIC QUOTES (Support) offered as evidence to support this assertion, followed by an EXPLANATION (Explain) or analysis of this quote? [ASE]. If so, good. If not, try to suggest what might serve to declare the topic of the paragraphs, note it needs textual evidence, and/ or suggest an explanation of a quote is missing. This is a good way to structure the body paragraphs of the expository essay: Assert the paragraph’s point/Support it with a quote/Explain what it means [ASE].

1. Next, put a large #5 and COMMENT on the ORDER and internal LOGIC of the paragraphs. Does the evidence offered to support the thesis argument make sense to you? Notice the essay’s organization. Be sure to comment if you notice the essay takes “side trips.” Is the essay logically put together? Does it stay on the topic? If not, briefly comment on paragraphs that seem out of place or beside the point. Try outlining the paragraph topics to help you identity the LOGICAL REASONING of the essay. Again, notice if the essay is mostly re-telling the story. If that’s all you see, say so.

1. Finally, please do NOT correct grammar, punctuation, spelling or format errors. You might mention it –use #6, GRAMMAR –if you notice a pattern of errors or want to suggest that the Spell Checker is in order. If it’s not double spaced in MLA formatting yet, just mention that it must be submitted in that format. DO NOT SPEND ANY TIME CORRECTING GRAMMAR.

1. NOTE TO THE WRITER. When you’ve finished reviewing the essay, look back. Please write a final short note to the writer — #7. What is your advice? In a friendly tone, briefly explain your comments. ALWAYS MENTION THE THESIS ARGUMENT again here. BE SPECIFIC. What’s working? What could be changed to make the essay better?

USE A FRIENDLY TONE and MENTION WHAT’s WORKING WELL, first & last. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE KIND, TO BE SPECIFIC and TO BE ENCOURAGING.

Again, be sure your name is at the top.