Peer Review: Improve Your Informative Essay

One of the biggest challenges writers face is reading a draft of their own work as a reader rather than as the writer. Because you know what you’re trying to say, you find it easy to understand your draft. To determine how you should revise your draft, ask a friend or classmate to read your essay and to consider how well you’ve adopted the role of reporter.

Purposeimage
  1. Did you find the essay informative? Did you learn anything new?
  2. What questions does the essay answer? Do I need to address any other questions?
Readersimage
  1. Did you find the essay interesting? Why or why not?
  2. Does the information I’ve included in my essay address my readers’ needs, interests, knowledge, and backgrounds?
  3. Does the essay seem fair? Did you detect any bias or agenda in the way I presented information?
Sourcesimage
  1. Does the information make sense? Can I add, clarify, or rearrange anything to help you understand the subject better? Do you think any of the details are unnecessary?
  2. Do my sources strike you as reliable and appropriate? Does any of the information seem questionable?
Contextimage
  1. Is my subject sufficiently narrow and focused? Is my thesis statement clear?
  2. Would any of the information be better presented in visual form?
  3. Is the physical appearance of my essay appropriate? Did you find the font easy to read? Did you have enough room to write down comments?

For each of the points listed above, ask your reviewers to provide concrete advice about what you should do to improve your draft. It can help if you ask them to adopt the role of an editor — someone who is working with you to improve your draft. You can read more about peer review in Chapter 4.