First, read through the paper once without writing anything down. Then, read through it again making some comments in the margins. After this, address the questions below on the back of the last page.
Thesis—In your own words, what is your classmate arguing?
Organization—How has your classmate organized this argument? Write a brief outline of your classmate's paper. Do you recommend any rearrangements of the different parts? Mention also anything your classmate can do to make the paper's organizational structure clearer to readers. Make a note in the margins for any place where you got lost while reading the paper.
Evidence—Indicate any parts of the piece that you find unconvincing and in need of some sort of support from outside evidence. If the point is convincing without the use of additional evidence, then do not mark it this way.
Focus—Consider the degree to which your classmate has focused on the issue in question. Are the points in the paper on which your classmate could expand? Or, are there parts of the paper that seem to wander too far beyond the topic in question? Make a note of areas in which the paper needs to expand or restrict itself more closely to the topic in question.
Introduction/Conclusion—Examine the way your classmate has framed the paper. The introduction should give you a clear understanding of the basic argument and where your classmate plans to take this argument. The conclusion should in some way refer back to the paper while offering some direction beyond the paper. Comment on the effectiveness of the Introduction and Conclusion with these criteria in mind.
Do you agree with your classmate's argument or disagree? Which part do you find the most persuasive and which part do you find the least persuasive?
Please sign the draft once you have peer-reviewed it.
Please offer your classmates' papers the same consideration that you would like your own paper to receive. You will need to turn in peer-reviewed working drafts with the final drafts of your papers next week, and I will grade the comments you give your classmates.