Peer review gives you the benefit of multiple perspectives. The feedback you receive from other writers can help you learn whether your main point is conveyed clearly, whether sufficient evidence is offered, whether your document is organized effectively, and whether readers are likely to react favorably to the information, ideas, and arguments you have presented in a draft. Feedback from other writers can also help you identify passages in a draft that might benefit from additional revision, polishing, or editing.

To increase your chances of creating an effective document, you might ask for feedback on your overall argument, your reasoning about an issue, and your use of evidence. You might ask a friend or classmate, “What do you know about . . . ?” or “Do you think it would be effective if . . . ?” or “Does this seem convincing to you?” You might ask a reviewer to pretend to be part of the intended audience for your document, or you might ask for feedback on specific aspects of your document, such as its organization, style, or design.