Humcore

Spring 2013

Peer Review: Paper #6--Galileo

Write your name on each of your classmates’ drafts at the top of the title page. Read each paper through simply for enjoyment, ignoring any sentence-level errors. Then address the following questions.

Thesis/Introduction:

• Highlight where you think the thesis is presented and write “thesis” in the column.
• Does the thesis explain how and why the claim is important? Does the thesis require greater specificity?
• Does the introduction offer enough context to prepare the reader for the coming argument?
• Does the introduction give the reader a sense of the paper’s trajectory and scope?

Paragraphs/Bodies of thought:

• Does each paragraph (or body of thought) have an arguable TS (topic statement)?
• Does each paragraph focus on the ideas presented in the TS? If not, which TSs /paragraphs should be revised?

Evidence/Warrants:

· Does the writer use the best available evidence? Does the evidence support all aspects of the claim?

· Mark those sections of the paper where you observe warrants. Write “warrant” in the margin. If the warrants are missing, mark the sections that need warrants and write “need warrant” in the appropriate space.

· Does the writer make logical and reasonable conclusions based on his/her evidence?

Organization:

• Do the paragraphs logically relate to one another? If not, mark the places where the logic seems unclear.
• Does the paper offer explicit transitions between the paragraphs? Where do we see effective transitions? Where do the transitions need revision?

Style:

• Are all quotations adequately introduced/contextualized/integrated? Does the introduction of the quotation flow grammatically into the quotation itself?
• Are there consistent grammar/usage errors that need attention?

Conclusion:

• Does the conclusion repeat the claims of the paper?
• Does the conclusion offer a new insight that does not require additional evidence for support?

For the Revision:

• Which two aspects of the paper are the strongest and should remain in the final?
• Which two aspects most need revision? Are there any conceptual problems that must be addressed?