It is also useful to have a peer reviewer or ‘writing buddy’. Authors often work with
reviewers who give them feedback on their writing, because a reviewer is reading and
reacting to the work as an audience would. Therefore, elements that may escape the writer
because of his/her closeness to the writing would be obvious to an objective reader. A
peer reviewer should be honest but tactful, pointing out the strengths of the writing, as
well as the weaknesses. It is important for the reviewer to be specific about the problems
of the paper without rewriting or editing it for the writer. One way of getting feedback
on your draft from a ‘real’ audience is by using a peer reviewer or writing partner.
Working with a partner or writing group is one of the fastest ways of developing your
writing. In the same way that you use a checklist to guide your own revision, your
reviewer also uses a set of guidelines for evaluation:
Fig. 11.6 Feedback
ACTIVITY 11.7
Exchange drafts with a partner and use the guidelines in
the peer review checklist to review each other’s draft.
Peer review checklist
1 Was the thesis of this paper clear to you?
2 What kind of evidence did the writer use to support the thesis?
Was it sufficient? Was it clearly related to the thesis?
3 Was the paper coherent and logically organised?
4 Were you confused about anything in the paper?
5 Does the introduction capture your attention?
6 Is the conclusion strong and effective?
7 What did you like best about this paper?
8 What does the author need to improve?
CHAPTER 11: WRITING 187