How to Write a Peer Critique

How to Write a Peer Critique Read  each  essay  twice.  You  will  be  surprised  by  how  many  things  that  you  didn’t  understand  the  first  time   through  will  become  clear  on  a  second  read.  Mark  up  the  text  as  you  go  along.   Your  1  page  letter  (yes,  write,  “Dear   ”)  should  look  like  this:   Paragraph  1:  Detail  what  works  in  the  essay.  Avoid  using  the  language  “I  liked”:  articulate  how  or  why   something  pleases  you  and  thus  “works”  for  the  essay.  Make  use  of  the  vocabulary  we  use  in  class.  Be  as   specific  as  possible.     For  instance:  The  essay  opened  immediately  inside  the  argument.  Or  perhaps:  Organization  was  strong.  I   could  read  through  the  topic  sentences  one  by  one  and  understand  the  logical  progression  of  the   argument.  Best  was  the  topic  sentence  to  paragraph  8,  which  had  the  tricky  role  of  transitioning  us  into   counter-­‐argument.   Paragraph  2:  Paraphrase  the  essay’s  argument  as  you  believe  the  author  intended  it  to  be.  This  should  be   your  shortest  paragraph––do  NOT  provide  a  detailed  summary  or  critique.   For  instance:  In  this  essay,  you  argue  that  while  some  critics  see  The  Arabian  Nights  as  a  completely   misogynistic  text,  Shahrazad’s  wit  and  ability  to  save  herself  require  us  to  rethink  our  perceptions  of  the   role  of  women.     Paragraph  3:  Consider  the  quality  of  the  argument.  Again,  avoid  the  language  of  likes  and  dislikes.  Consider   whether  someone  reasonable  could  argue  with  the  author,  whether  there  is  evidence  to  support  the   claims,  whether  the  argument  is  oversimplified,  etc.   For   instance:   Instead   of   a   larger   argument,   you’ve   written   a  list   of   points   which   simply   delineate   the   way   Woody  Allen’s  films  use  black  and  white  contrast.  Or  perhaps:  In  claiming  that  Shane  is  not  a  hero,  you’ve   written  a  moralistic  argument,  and  values  aren’t  fair  game  for  argument.   Paragraph  4:  Detail  other  substantial  issues  you  notice  in  the  essay,  such  as  issues  related  to  analysis  or   organization.  Begin  with  the  most  serious  problems  first.     For  instance:  Your  choice  of  organizing  the  paper  by  moving  from  one  source  to  the  next  source  prevents   you  from  ever  clearly  comparing  sources  or  fully  stating  your  own  opinion.     Avoid  discussing  spelling  or  grammar  issues  unless  they  truly  inhibited  your  comprehension  of  the  essay.   Be  mindful  of  the  fact  that  “grammar  issues”  often  have  more  to  do  with  sentence  structure  than  with   details  like  subject-­‐verb  agreement  or  missing  or  incorrectly  used  determiners.  Thus,  it  may  be  helpful  to   respond  to  substantial  “grammar  issues”  by  simply  pointing  out  that  certain  sentences  are  difficult  to   understand.  Suggest  that  the  writer  consider  breaking  down  these  sentences  into  smaller  units,  each  of   which  contains  a  single  idea.  If  you  feel  comfortable  providing  a  sample  of  how  the  writer  may  revise  such   sentences,  it’s  OK  to  provide  one  sample  in  the  margins  or  on  a  separate  sheet.     Paragraph  5:  Make  suggestions  for  the  rewrite.  Here  you  are  prioritizing  the  problems  you  have   identified.     For  instance:  Find  source  evidence  for  every  claim  you  make,  especially  in  paragraph  6,  where  your   argument  is  the  most  contentious.  Or:  Add  a  counter-­‐argument  in  the  penultimate  paragraph.  Or:  The   ratio  of  evidence  to  discussion  is  highly  skewed  towards  evidence  –-­‐  expand  the  discussion  of  your  own   ideas.   Paragraph  6:  End  with  a  final  concluding  thought  about  the  essay  as  a  whole.  Sign  the  letter.