Guidelines for Peer Review

Research Paper, Essay #5

Essay written by:

Peer review completed by:

1. Does the essay have an engaging title, one that makes the reader want to continue?

2. Does the beginning of the essay grab the reader's attention? What strategy does the author use in the opening paragraph?

3. What is the question at issue? What is the author’s stance on the question at issue? Is that stance clearly reflected in the author’s thesis? Restate the thesis here.

4. List the main reasons the author gives to support his/her stance on the question at issue.

5. What evidence does the author offer to support these reasons? Is the evidence adequate? Is it convincing?

6. Does the author consider the viewpoints of those who might not agree and respond to that audience? List opposing viewpoints here and the author’s response.

7. Is the essay organized effectively? Could the organization be improved?

8. Has extraneous material that does not speak to the issue been omitted? If the essay includes any material that is not relevant, list it here.

9. Is the end/conclusion of the essay effective? Where pertinent, has the author suggested a solution? What is that solution?

10. Has the writer used appropriate sources (adequate? varied? credible? timely?)? Have quotations been incorporated smoothly into the text? Has quoted material been accurately documented?

11. Has the Works Cited list been prepared correctly and accurately? Use the Handbook to check the entries for accurate format.

12. List the strengths of the essay below.