PAPER 2: PEER REVIEW 2

Working in your assigned group, you will need to read, mark, and write a response to two of your classmates' papers. Please do the following:

1. Read and mark the paper

• Write "Read by [your name]" at the top of the paper.
• Mark positive reactions to the paper: note clear thesis statement, good use of evidence, good analysis of evidence, focused paragraphs, strong transitions, good quote mechanics and works cited entries, compelling conclusion, good identification of both primary and secondary sources, etc. Let the writer know what is working well in the paper.
• Note areas that need improvement: typos, grammar issues, quote and format mechanics, lack of a works cited page, failure to provide evidence, lack of analysis of evidence, contradictions between evidence and claim made about the evidence, lack of transitions, lack of thesis, repetitive language, use of "I" and "you," etc.

2. Write a response to the author to help them with the final draft

• Restate the thesis you believe the paper is arguing. Is it clearly stated in the opening paragraphs? Does it need to be stated more clearly? If there isn't a clear thesis, suggest one based on the content of the paper.
• Discuss the key strengths of the paper
• Are there areas of the paper that veer off topic or are unclear? If so, what are they? What suggestions do you have in terms of moving, cutting, or adding ideas?
• What is the best use of evidence in the paper? Why?
• Where is more evidence needed?
• If the author introduces both the primary text (the novel or film being discussed) and the secondary source (one of the essays we read in class about horror), compliment him or her. If the author didn't, please point that out.
• Discuss any problems with quote mechanics, MLA format, MS Word issues, and the works cited page.
• Is the conclusion solid? Does it avoid bringing in new evidence? Does it link together the major points of the paper? Is there an effort to apply the analysis of the primary text to a broader point?
• Please note: I will send the whole group back to wait for all members to complete a meaningful, full paragraph.

3. Special focus: papers using "Monster Culture (Seven Theses)"

• Make sure that the writer is referring to the essay "Monster Culture (Seven Theses)," not the anthology Monster Theory: Reading Culture in which it was published.
• Make sure the writer puts the essay's title "Monster Culture (Seven Theses)" in quotation marks alone, no italics.
• Make sure the writer does not refer to individual theses by number.
• Make sure that the author provides discussions of quotations from the essay that actually reflect what the essay says: some folks will insert a quote from the article but clearly don't understand the quote they are using. Help them to understand the quote if that is the case.

4. Special focus: papers using the Final Girl Concept

• Make sure to introduce the idea that Peter Hutchings is using the definition of Final Girls created by Carol J. Clover in the body of the paper before using the definition. Use her full name upon first mention, then just her last name in subsequent references.
• When quoting Hutchings' quotes of Clover, remember that the writer needs to use the quote-within-a-quote method.
• Internal citations of a Clover should follow one of these two models:
  • According to Clover, "'X'" is true about Final Girls (qtd. in Hutchings 25)
  • "'X'" is true about Final Girls (Clover qtd. in Hutchings 25).

5. Special focus: papers using 28 Days Later

• If a character is quoted, use the character's name in the signal phrase, not the parenthetical citation.
• Parenthetical citations should be made in reference to the title of the film. Example: Jim says to Selena, "That was more than a heartbeat" (28 Days Later).
• Current practice in MLA is to give a time stamp for a quote or scene after the film title, but because I did not require people to purchase the film, I will not ask for that. Please note that this is a deviation of the MLA standard and that other professors may require such time stamps in their courses.
• When citing the film on the Works Cited page, start with the film title and then follow the model in your handbook.