Assignment Guide

The Main Assignment

Part 1

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Part 2

Peer Reviews

My expectation for the peer review is a significant and thoughtful engagement with the piece’s ideas, as well as detailed notes on the writing. This is an exercise in constructive critique, so there must be suggestions for improvement.

How to submit your review

You can use the markup features on Canvas as you read. Your written critique should then be uploaded for the peer critique assignment and sent to your colleague. (You should be able to share a Google Doc or attach a file in the “Comments for this Attempt” bar on Canvas.) Make sure to submit it in both places. The assignment upload goes to me so that you get credit for the assignment. The “Comments for this attempt” make it available to your colleague.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Giving helpful critiques is a nuanced art, and I am happy to talk it through with you.

Tips on peer reviews

From Pedagogy in Action:

Before you even make your first comment, read the document all the way through.
Make sure you leave enough time for you to read through, respond, and for your peer to edit his/her document with your comments before any deadlines.
If you are provided with a feedback form to fill out and something is unclear, do not ignore the item but ask the instructor for clarification.
Point out the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the document.
Offer suggestions, not commands.
Editorial comments should be appropriate and constructive. There is no need to be rude. Be respectful and considerate of the writer’s feelings.
Be sure that your comments are clear and text-specific so that your peer will know what you are referring to (for example, terms such as “unclear” or “vague” are too general to be helpful).
As a reader, raise questions that cross your mind, points that may not have occurred to your peer author.
Try not to overwhelm your peer with too much commentary. Follow the feedback form and the issues you are supposed to address.
Be careful not to let your own opinions bias your review (for example, don’t suggest that your peer completely rewrite the paper just because you don’t agree with his/her point of view).
Reread your comments before passing them on to your peer. Make sure all your comments make sense and are easy to follow.
Avoid turning your peer’s paper into your paper.