Grad Written Thesis Peer Review Process

First, make an agreement with your peer review partner about how much time you will spend with each others’ writing, so that your investment will be equitable.

Second, ask the author if there are specific elements on which you might decide to focus.

Third, answer the following questions in a separate document. You can also make notes on the paper itself. Use specific examples to make your advice as useful as possible.

    • Can you identify the main point or thesis? Is it specific, arguable, narrow, defensible, original, and significant?

    • Is the main point well explained and/or defended throughout the text? Are examples convincing and sources used effectively? 

    • Are examples/works/projects described clearly enough so that you can picture them? Does the author interpret their meaning? 

    • Are new terms clearly defined?

    • Does any of the content seem tangential or work against the writer’s purpose?

    • Is documentation thorough and correctly formatted?

    • Is the introduction clear and compelling? Does it convey the relevance of the author’s work and ideas in an engaging way?

    • How is the text constructed/organized? Is the structure appropriate to the purpose? Is it logical, non-repetitive, functional? 

    • Are there clear transitions between chapters, sections, and/or paragraphs? Do you understand why one topic follows another? Is there any information that would be more helpful earlier in the text?

    • Do ideas progress clearly and logically from one sentence to the next? Are paragraphs focused, each illuminating a new idea? 

    • How does the paper conclude? Does the conclusion leave you wanting more (in either positive or negative ways), speculating, convinced, satisfied, intrigued?

    • What is the general tone or voice of the paper (scholarly, accessible, personal, objective)? Is it appropriate for the audience and purpose of the text?

    • How do the sentences flow? Do the sentence lengths vary? Does it sound natural, like someone speaking? Are there any sentences that were too long to follow? Are there any sentences that were especially effective or beautiful? 

    • Are there multiple languages used in the text? What is the effect for a reader who speaks those languages? What is the effect for a reader who only speaks one of those languages? 

    • Does the vocabulary used fit the topic and the audience/purpose?

    • Do you notice spelling, syntax, verb tense, punctuation, or other errors? Are there any unclear sentences? (Don’t feel obligated to proofread; just make note of your observations.)

 
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