Peer Review Worksheet: Comparison of Popular and Scholarly Sources
Read the paper carefully BEFORE beginning to fill out this sheet.
Respond in complete sentences and explain your responses.
Your Name:
Name of Writer (whose paper are you responding to?):
Introduction.
Does it provide a general introduction to the topic that is the subject of your articles, and to the idea of scholarly
and popular articles in general? Does it introduce the two different articles to be compared, e.g., identifies the
authors and article titles, and perhaps the journal title? Does it provide some background on each article
(previewing their basic/broad similarities and differences as a scholarly and popular source)?
Give an example of a sentence in the introduction that works particularly well or is especially clear:
[Type the answer here.]
Now give an example of a sentence in the introduction that is less clear or effective:
[Type the answer here.]
Why is the second example less effective? How might it be improved?
[Type the answer here.]
Thesis.
Write the thesis statement below:
[Type the answer here.]
Does the thesis statement provide a general summary of overall similarities and differences between the
two sources? How could it be improved? (Try rewriting it for your partner.)
[Type the answer here.]
Body.
Does the paper in some way explain the similarities and differences in audience, purpose, genre, and
stance? If not, what seems to be missing?
[Type the answer here.]
Does the body provide a few details on the content (information) contained in each article? Does it
compare how extensive/detailed the information is in each?
[Type the answer here.]
Does it discuss stylistic differences and similarities (voice, diction, etc.)? If not, where could this information be
added?
[Type the answer here.]
Does it compare and contrast the overall appearance/format of the two articles?
Briefly summarize what the paper says about the format of the articles.
[Type the answer here.]
How is the body organized? (Is it in “blocks,” point-by-point, or some other way?) Does this
organization work to clearly and logically highlight points of comparison and contrast?
[Type the answer here.]
Does the paper use specific examples from the articles (brief summaries, paraphrases, direct quotes) to
illustrate these assumptions and comparisons? Do citations appear to be more or less than 15-20% of the
paper’s content?
[Type the answer here.]
Conclusion.
Does the conclusion reiterate the general comparison claim made in the thesis? Does it reflect on what
the similarities and differences in these two sources reveal about the features of academic vs. popular
writing in general? Does the conclusion seem fully fleshed out, or does it need further development? If it
needs development, what could be added?
[Type the answer here.]
General Comments.
Is the evidence well documented, following MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited list?
[Type the answer here.]
Other general comments and recommendations for revision:
[Type the answer here.]