10.1 Peer Review of Formal Report
Due by the deadline posted in the schedule.
For your next-to-last step in the formal research project process, you will review the Formal Report of a classmate. I will assign pairs for peer-review closer to the project deadline.
Your peer review should follow the formatting guidelines for Peer Review Reports on pp. 310 and 311. However, in lieu of the categories on the example provided in the textbook, you should use the following categories from the assignment rubric:
To complete these reviews:
For your next-to-last step in the formal research project process, you will review the Formal Report of a classmate. I will assign pairs for peer-review closer to the project deadline.
Your peer review should follow the formatting guidelines for Peer Review Reports on pp. 310 and 311. However, in lieu of the categories on the example provided in the textbook, you should use the following categories from the assignment rubric:
- Front Matter
- Body
- Conclusion and Recommendations
- Grammar and Citations
To complete these reviews:
- Access your peer review through the email that I send you Monday, March 17.
- Review your classmates' report.
- Type your peer review in a Google Doc and share it with the peer and with myself.
Caution: Address all of the items in each category in your peer review reports. If you find that a report does an excellent job in a particular area, be specific about how that particular area of the report meets the guidelines. In other words, avoid statements like the following example:
Front Matter: Your front matter is very good. You have all of the components necessary in this area.
Instead, elaborate on what in particular about the area makes it good. Remember, good feedback elaborates on the positives as well as giving constructive feedback about areas that can be improved. For example:
Front Matter: You do a good job of providing a cover letter that appeals to the specific audience, particularly when you direct them to consider your request that a new recycling center be built in your area. Also, your abstract covers each of the primary areas of your report. You might consider including the recommendations from your "Recommendations" area in both the cover letter and the report to ensure that busy readers understand your recommendations.
In other words, don't provide "empty" feedback about the positive areas of the report. Give good, constructive feedback about both the positives and the areas where the document can be improved.
When I evaluate these peer reviews, I will compare your review with my evaluation of the document. Therefore, if I notice that you gave the a "good job!" in an area that did not meet the criteria outlined in the grading scale, I will deduct points from your peer review. I'm not necessarily looking for you to exactly replicate my evaluation of the document, but I am looking for you to conduct an educated peer review based on the guidelines and concepts we have studied this semester in the course.
Front Matter: Your front matter is very good. You have all of the components necessary in this area.
Instead, elaborate on what in particular about the area makes it good. Remember, good feedback elaborates on the positives as well as giving constructive feedback about areas that can be improved. For example:
Front Matter: You do a good job of providing a cover letter that appeals to the specific audience, particularly when you direct them to consider your request that a new recycling center be built in your area. Also, your abstract covers each of the primary areas of your report. You might consider including the recommendations from your "Recommendations" area in both the cover letter and the report to ensure that busy readers understand your recommendations.
In other words, don't provide "empty" feedback about the positive areas of the report. Give good, constructive feedback about both the positives and the areas where the document can be improved.
When I evaluate these peer reviews, I will compare your review with my evaluation of the document. Therefore, if I notice that you gave the a "good job!" in an area that did not meet the criteria outlined in the grading scale, I will deduct points from your peer review. I'm not necessarily looking for you to exactly replicate my evaluation of the document, but I am looking for you to conduct an educated peer review based on the guidelines and concepts we have studied this semester in the course.
Think About It
Audience Awareness
The primary audience for your peer review is your peer and the secondary audience for your peer review is Dr. Harris. Thus, you have to consider both the tone and the content of your writing. You will need to provide feedback that is helpful to your peer without being condescending and/or overly harsh. The purpose of the peer review is two-fold: to help your primary audience to revise their report and to also demonstrate to your secondary audience that you understand the concepts of the formal report well enough to help others understand them, too.
Collaboration
Because you are working with a peer to make their work better, think about the type of feedback that you would like to receive and what would help you revise your report and do the same for your peer. Go above and beyond cheer leading in your review to provide clear and concise feedback regarding places you were unclear about the project or places where they did not follow the criteria for the project. As a professional, you will be required to analyze the work of others and be able to provide clear and helpful feedback; this project is a chance to practice that skill.
Information Literacy
As you review the work of your peer, be sure to indicate specific places in the textbook where they can go to find further information (i.e., if they are having trouble formatting the front matter of their report, indicate the pages in the book that will help them with that part of the report).
Digital Literacy
At this point, you have submitted several documents through Google Docs. This peer review will be submitted through Google Docs so that you can share the document easily with multiple parties and so that you can work with the comments feature to answer any questions that your instructor or your peer might have regarding your peer review.
Audience Awareness
The primary audience for your peer review is your peer and the secondary audience for your peer review is Dr. Harris. Thus, you have to consider both the tone and the content of your writing. You will need to provide feedback that is helpful to your peer without being condescending and/or overly harsh. The purpose of the peer review is two-fold: to help your primary audience to revise their report and to also demonstrate to your secondary audience that you understand the concepts of the formal report well enough to help others understand them, too.
Collaboration
Because you are working with a peer to make their work better, think about the type of feedback that you would like to receive and what would help you revise your report and do the same for your peer. Go above and beyond cheer leading in your review to provide clear and concise feedback regarding places you were unclear about the project or places where they did not follow the criteria for the project. As a professional, you will be required to analyze the work of others and be able to provide clear and helpful feedback; this project is a chance to practice that skill.
Information Literacy
As you review the work of your peer, be sure to indicate specific places in the textbook where they can go to find further information (i.e., if they are having trouble formatting the front matter of their report, indicate the pages in the book that will help them with that part of the report).
Digital Literacy
At this point, you have submitted several documents through Google Docs. This peer review will be submitted through Google Docs so that you can share the document easily with multiple parties and so that you can work with the comments feature to answer any questions that your instructor or your peer might have regarding your peer review.