Peer Review

See the "In-class Peer Review Instructions" below, or click on one of the following links for additional help with peer review processes. 

• Instructions for leaving peer feedback on Canvas

• Instructions for getting feedback from an Academic Success Center tutor (peer review alternative assignment)

In-class Peer Review Instructions

Note for Hybrid classes: These instructions still apply to your class. The peer review will just be conducted fully online instead of during class time. 

Peer review is a chance for you and your classmates to read each other’s draft ethnographies and provide feedback and revision suggestions. This will be done during class.

• You will be working in teams of three or four to give you an opportunity to get two reviews from other students.

• Everyone will be assigned at least two papers in Canvas for peer review. 

• Work out with your team to determine who will review each person's paper. You will complete TWO peer reviews during class, which means everyone will receive two peer reviews also. (Students in groups of 4 or 5 will not review all papers, just two). 

Instructions for Leaving Feedback 

• Read the entire draft.

• While you are reading, leave comments along the side of the paper using either the highlighter or dropped comment tools in Canvas. 

• Focus on High Order Concerns (HOCs) and Middle Order Concerns (MOCs), such as organization, flow, transitions, and evidence. At this time, do NOT focus on Later Order Concerns (LOCs), such as grammar and spelling unless it is making a section of the paper hard to understand.

• While you are leaving feedback, observe the following about the essay:

  • Does the writer write an understandable ethnography?

  • Does the ethnography seem to follow the conventions and expectations of the genre? (Think about the samples we read in class)

  • Is it well organized? Are there any points at which you found yourself confused? Is the sequence of the points logical?

  • Are the ideas well developed? Are the points in the observation section backed up with evidence and specific details? 

  • Does there seem to be anything missing? Are there areas that could use more information?

  • Does the paper transition well between types of research? (for example, between the observation section, interview, and scholarly section)

  • Is the scholarly research section well-developed? Do paragraphs in the scholarly section use more than one source to support the point?

Note: If you miss peer review and go to the Academic Success Center, you do not need a letter like below, but ask them if they can focus on the questions above during your session. 

Peer Review Letter

After you have read the paper and considered the above, write a reader review letter to the writer (the student whose paper you are looking at) based off the above observations and overall thoughts. Leave this letter in the comments area on Canvas. 

The letter should be a summary of your thoughts on their paper and include the following:

• • At least one thing they are doing well,

  • At least one HOC/MOC that you'd recommend they focus on for revision, and 

  • Specific examples from their paper to explain what you mean with your feedback. You can include the examples using one of the following methods: 

    • • Point to a page number and paragraph number, like "For example, on page 4, paragraph 2, where you..." 

      • Highlight the spot on the paper and let them know what page number it's on, like "I highlighted an example on page 4".

Example Letter

(Leave your letter in the comment area to the right of the paper on the peer review assignment.)

Hi Jessie, 

I thought you did really well with your observation section of your paper. The details that you included that showed the interaction between that family on page 3 of your paper helped me understand what you were saying about families and children in this community. 

For revision, one of my recommendations is that you look at how you are transitioning between your sources in your scholarly section. There were a few spots that were hard to follow when they jumped between quotes. I highlighted a couple of these spots on page 6 and 7. I'd also recommend checking that you have lead-ins for your quotes. 

Overall, I really liked your paper and it was fun to read about this community. 

~ Katie