WR 121 – Peer Review of the "Exploring an Idea" essay
Students will read and review two papers by fellow students. One review will be done in class and one at
home. Reviews will be graded on the thoroughness with which you read and comment on the other papers.
The hoped for outcome:
1) that you will learn something useful about writing by observing other student essays
(maybe a method you can imitate?)
2) that your feedback will help the other writers
(Note - you are focusing on ideas and techniques, not on spelling or grammar.)
IN CLASS REVIEW –
1) Take a sheet of paper and label it with your name, the other student's name, and the title of the essay you
are reading. You will turn this in today for grading. I'll return it to the author on Thursday.
2) Read the other paper.
3) -- Give one example of where the author used logos – facts, logical reasoning, quotes, examples
– to explain the idea.
-- Give one example of where the author used pathos – arousing emotion in the reader
-- Give an example of where the author used ethos – creating a sense of the author's own credibility
(first hand account? Eyewitness? Experiencing the situation) and/or of the sources cited (if any).
-- Describe the part you liked best and why.
4) Share your notes with the author and discuss each other's papers. Then hand in your analysis. I'll hand it
back to the person whose paper it describes on Thursday for use in revising.
TAKE HOME REVIEW – bring two typed copies to class - 1 for author, 1 for grade
Type a minimum of one page double spaced review of the paper as a letter to the author. Include your name,
the author's name and the title of the essay. Write the author a letter telling him or her in detail and using
specific details from the essay.
-- Give an example of where the author used logos to explain the idea.
Suggest another way the author might include logos.
-- Give an example of where the author used pathos.
Suggest another way (or example) for pathos.
-- Give an example of where the author used ethos
Suggest another way the author could use ethos.
-- Describe one example that you thought was interesting and why.
-- Describe the part you liked best and why.
-- If any part confused you, say where and why.
Don't forget to write your PEER REVIEW REPORT – see syllabus for format.