Peer Critique Questionnaire

Return this form to the author of the essay by the Fourth Hour on Wednesday, October 13.  If the reviewer or the author has follow-up questions.  Plan on meeting in person or via e-mail or IM to follow up. 

Essay title ___________________________________________________

Author ______________________________________________________

Peer critic ___________________________________________________

As a peer critic, your basic task is to mirror back to the author what you see in the draft, asking clarifying questions.  Here are some prompts to support your task.

As you read, which parts of the essay do you find most engaging, and why?   Were there particular phrases or sentences that stuck out?  Why? 

In your own words, what question does the essay seem to be answering?  (When you follow up with the author, find out if your perception of the central question matches the author's intention--and, if not, why not.)

As you read the essay, are there parts that you find unclear, awkward, or confusing?  Why?  (word choice, sentence structure, ideas not developed, lack of transitions, not clear how the passage relates to the main themes?)

What major themes do you see in the essay, and how are they connected? 

How has the author handled the requirements for the assignment?  How has she brought her own voice and her own thinking to the assignment?  Do you see opportunities for her to do more of this?

Would you advise the author to ask the instructor any clarifying questions about the assignment?  If so, what, specifically?