Philosophy Peer Review Sheet

Peer Review Directions

First, read your peer’s paper twice. Look over the questions below and type out your answers.
Then, email these answers to your peer.

Second, set up a meeting to discuss these responses with your partner.

Third, read the entire paper out loud to each other in order to get a sense of its thesis and
argument, and make sure the language is clear and natural.

Last, upload your peer review to blackboard under the assignments page for a grade.

Grade: You will be graded on the thoughtful and thorough completion of questions #1-7, and the
content of question #8.

Guidelines for Peer Review

Some general guidelines:

 Don’t just give negative comments; point out strengths as well as weaknesses.

 When discussing areas that need improvement, be nice. Offer suggestions, not
commands.

 Make sure your comments are constructive and specific (not: This paper is confusing. It
keeps saying the same things over and over again but rather It sounds like paragraph five
makes the same point as paragraph 2 and 3).

 Focus on the quality of the arguments/reasons that the author gives rather than on
whether you agree with the author’s position. If you do disagree, give good reasons
when responding to question 8.
 PEER‐REVIEW QUESTIONS

Answer these questions in one or two sentences.

1. Formulate the paper’s main thesis in a sentence or two (in your own words).

2. Identify the main reasons the author gives for endorsing this conclusion. List and enumerate
(i, ii, iii, iv, etc.) these reasons.

3. Is the structure clear? How would you suggest that the author improve the structure of the
paper? (Hint: is there a signpost on each paragraph/ does the introduction tell you the thesis and
how the author will argue for it?)

4. Indicate any reasons that need to be clarified or more convincingly supported.

5. Indicate any reasons or paragraphs that could be dropped without much loss to the paper's
argument.

6. What is the main thing you think the author should work to improve (or expand)?

7. What is one of the main things that the author does well in the paper?

Answer question #8 in a one-page double-spaced response (The content of #8 will be graded, the
rest will be a completion grade):

8. What is the best objection or counterargument to the paper’s claims (thesis or supporting
reasons) that you can think up? Or What is an additional argument in favor of your partner’s
thesis that is not considered and may strengthen the paper?