RESEARCH PAPER PEER REVIEW

Working in a trio or a quartet, please read, mark, and comment on three papers in your group. Make sure three readers do the same for you. Write "Read by___" and your name on each paper you read. Then do the following:

1. Mark the draft for the following:

• Typos, grammatical errors (particularly punctuation associated with the FANBOYS and also with introductory clauses
• Quote mechanics (use of signal phrase, quotations, citations, and discussion)
• Works cited mechanics
• MLA format and computer issues

2. Write a note to the author that does the following:

• Identify if the writer is doing the history or the education topic.
• For History, comment on the following:
  • What is the main topic of the paper?
  • How does the author present the most common view of the historical topic?
  • What alternative view about the historical topic is the author presenting to complicate the standard view of the historical person or event?
  • Why does the author believe that this new perspective is important?
  • Note: if the author's topic, alternative view, or purpose in sharing it with readers isn't clear, the author has a major problem. Please point this out to the writer and make some suggestions on what he or she might say.
• For Education, comment on the following:
  • What is the main problem that is being defined?
  • What is the solution that the writer is offering to that problem?
  • What is the purpose of making this argument?
  • Note: if the problem, solution, and purpose in making the argument isn't clear in the introduction, there's a significant problem with the paper. Make suggestions on how to improve the opening.
• For BOTH topics, comment on the following:
  • What is the best evidence in the paper thus far?
  • Where is evidence lacking?
  • Is the author using a range of sources or depending on just one?
  • How are the quote mechanics, particularly with signal phrases, in the paper?
  • What should the author do to revise what he or she has?