Peer Critiques

1
Peer Critiques Thesis Strategies

• On todays agenda
• Preview of Brief Assignment 6 Thesis Strategies
• Review of Peer Critiques

ENGL 1301
07/23/08
2
Brief Assignment 6 Thesis Strategies (Preview)

• A thesis makes an assertion, taking one of three
  styles
• Explanatory
• States a fact
• Is suitable for short, informational writing
• Mildly argumentative
• States a fact and expresses an opinion
• Is suitable for organizing reports or essays
  requiring some analysis
• Strongly argumentative / persuasive
• States a fact and urges a solution
• Is suitable for papers requiring information,
  analysis, and writers forcefully-stated point of
  view
• For Brief 6, you will
• Rewrite your Draft 1.1 thesis in each of the
  three styles
• Write an analysis of the three statements,
  including their differences and relative
  effectiveness
• Nuts Bolts 300-400 words due Friday, 07/25/08

3
Peer Critiques Tips Pointers

• Find something to praise be honest but tactful
• Be thorough, but focus on the big picture
• DONT point out spelling / grammatical errors
  unless they are completely distracting or make
  the work confusing
• DO
• Identify / restate the papers thesis statement,
  and discuss whether it
• Is effective and arguable
• Identifies an ethical lens
• Is appropriate for papers scope (if not, explain
  how the writer might correct the problem)
• Discuss whether the ethical lens
• Is adequately explained and applied
• Is apparent and supported throughout the paper
• Is appropriate to the topic (if it isnt, suggest
  another option)

4
Peer Critiques Tips Pointers

• Discuss the use of sources
• Are they used effectively, integrated properly,
  and cited correctly? Provide examples.
• Can you think of additional sources or ways the
  writer might improve his/her use of sources? If
  so, offer some suggestions.
• Discuss the overall essay structure and
  effectiveness
• Does the argument flow logically from one idea to
  the next? Provide examples.
• Does the writer include a clear introduction,
  body, and conclusion?
• Does each paragraph begin with a topic sentence?
• Does each paragraph transition smoothly into the
  next?
• Is the overall argument persuasivehas it
  confirmed your opinion, convinced you to change
  your mind, given you something to think about,
  taught you something you didnt already know?
  Remember to give your peer some constructive
  feedback!

5
Peer Critiques Tonights Assignment

• You will critique two of your peers drafts and
  two peers will critique yours.
• Critiques focus on the following areas
• Topic/Thesis Identify the writer's thesis and
  then evaluate it for effectiveness. Discuss
  whether the thesis is specific enough and of
  appropriate scope for this argument. Explain why
  or why not, and provide suggestions for the
  writer to help improve the thesis, if necessary.
• Ethical Lens/Analysis Is it clear that the
  writer is exploring the issue through one of the
  three ethical lenses--utilitarianism, justice, or
  individual rights? What evidence does the writer
  provide that indicates he/she understands this
  lens? You may want to refer back to Cavanagh's
  essay (384-386) when answering this prompt.
• Source Materials Examine the use of the source
  material. Discuss whether or not the sources are
  used appropriately and integrated effectively. If
  the writer can improve his or her use of sources,
  what would you recommend he or she do? If you
  think it would help the writer, revise one
  sentence so show the writer how to better
  introduce, integrate, and comment on source
  material.
• Overall Essay Structure Comment on the overall
  structure of the essay. For example, explain in
  detail whether or not the paragraphs are
  presented in a logical and persuasive way. Does
  the writer provide a clear introduction, body and
  conclusion? Does each paragraph begin with a
  clear topic sentence and transition into the next
  paragraph? Provide examples that are particularly
  effective or areas that need more improvement.
• Nuts Bolts One paragraph ( 125 words) per
  area, for a total of 450-500 words. Two peer
  critiques are due tonight at 11 pm.

6
Recaps

• Peer Critiques (two) due tonight at 11 pm (note
  you will be assigned drafts to critique only
  after you have submitted your own)
• Brief 6 (Thesis Strategies) due Friday, 07/25/08
  at 11 pm
• For Wednesday
• Please read Textbook pp. 83-96
• Please read Handbook pp. 96-99, 221, and 288-290
• Please complete Exercise Central quizzes 279,
  445