Peer Review Guidelines

Step 1: Learn what feedback the writer wants.

In your classes (and in professional settings), it's important that you share a self-assessment and some guiding questions with anyone who will be reviewing your writing. Key concerns and areas for feedback might include the following:

• What are you trying to do with this document (i.e., what is its purpose/context, and who is your audience)?

• What would you like feedback on?

• How far along is your document in its revision process?

• Is there anything you don't want feedback on (e.g., parts you know are still unfinished, parts you didn't give much attention to yet)?

This information provides a "framing text" for reviewing a draft. If a writer hasn't provided you with it, be sure to ask for it before you start giving feedback on their draft.

Step 3: Consider which feedback tool to use (or get to know the ones you'll be using).

All of these tools are recommended for conducting peer review (but note that you may be required to use a specific one for your course).

Google Docs

Many students have access to the full Google suite through their university email account. Consider that it:

• works well for all stages of review;

• allows you to add margin comments or make suggested edits to text that the writer can opt to add or reject; and

• allows you to edit documents synchronously with writers and/or other reviewers and have in-doc chat sessions.

Microsoft Word

At many institutions, students can download the full Microsoft Office suite for free. Consider that it:

• works well for all stages of review;

• allows you to add margin comments and make direct edits to text through its Track Changes feature; and

• offers more formatting options than Google Docs currently does.

Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat Reader, which allows you to add comments to PDF files, is free. You can download it from the Adobe website. Consider that it:

• works best for early stage reviews and second drafts;

• allows you to add comments and annotate text but not make direct changes to it;

• encourages your reviewer to focus on higher-order issues; and

• ensures that your document's formatting is preserved, so it's great to use if your draft has unique fonts or a complicated layout.

Web Conferencing (Google Meet or Zoom)

Google Meet and Zoom are just a couple of the many applications available for web-based video conferencing, which you can use to

• meet for in-person, synchronous reviewer-writer conferences at all stages of review; and

• toggle between face-to-face chat and screen sharing to view a draft simultaneously.

Step 4: Make margin comments.

Use a commenting feature to mark points in the text where you think revision is needed or to give praise. Here are some tips for writing good margin comments on a draft:

1 | Skim the entire draft.

Give the draft a thorough read-through before you start making any margin comments. As you read, note strengths and weaknesses that are repeated in the writing. Pointing out patterns to the writer will assure them that you read their draft closely, and it will help you prioritize which topics you'll address in your comments (especially your summary comment in Step 5).

2 | Avoid taking over the writer's text.

A lot of comments and direct edits (like the ones in this example) may offend or simply depress a writer. Instead, prioritize 3-4 topics for feedback that will have the most impact at the current stage of the writing process. (If you aren't sure which topics to address, you could use the hierarchy of rhetorical concerns to guide your decision.) Also, be sure to note not only what revisions should be made but also what the writer might consider keeping as-is.

3 | Be mindful of your tone.

As you comment on the draft, talk about the document and potential readers' responses to it, not the writer. For example, don't write:

"You don't explain clearly why this detail is relevant."

Here's a better way to phrase the same thought:

"This detail gets a lot of attention. I'm not sure your readers will understand why."

Consider that as a peer reviewer, your role is to model for the writer how a reader will react to their draft. Instead of using "you" statements, phrase your feedback as "I" statements, make notes on elements of the writing itself, and ask questions.

4 | Offer specific positive feedback.

Rather than only looking for where the writing falls short, you should also be asking, "What's working well?" Identifying moments in the writing or elements of the draft that you find effective and explaining why can help the writer repeat and build on their strengths.

Just be sure that your praise is genuine. Don't just share general evaluative comments, like "Good job!" or "That's a perfect thesis!" Instead, point to specific examples in the writing, for example,

"I appreciated your reflection on the challenges you personally faced in making it through the admissions process as a first-generation student. These details really made your overall framing, that first-gen students need more support to make it to college, clear and compelling."