Peer review is an important step in many careers. It makes sure your ideas are checked for accuracy, quality, and credibility before being presented or published.

Why It’s Important

  1. Ensures accuracy and quality: Peer review helps ensure that research or work submitted for publication or presentation is accurate, reliable, and of high quality. Peers with expertise in the same field can evaluate the work and identify any errors or inconsistencies that need to be addressed before it’s shared.
  2. Validates research findings and ideas: Peer review helps validate research and conclusions. By having the work reviewed by experts in the same field, any errors or biases in the research can be identified and corrected, increasing confidence in the validity of the findings.
  3. Enhances credibility: Peer review enhances the credibility of published or presented work. When an idea has undergone rigorous peer review, it is considered more credible and trustworthy by the scientific or academic community.
  4. Encourages feedback and improvement: Peer review encourages feedback and constructive criticism, which can help the author improve their work. The review process can provide the author with valuable insights, suggestions, and perspectives that they may not have considered otherwise.
  5. Advances knowledge and innovation: Peer review plays an important role in advancing knowledge and innovation. By evaluating and critiquing research, peers can identify areas of weakness and opportunities for further study or innovation.

Peer Review Your Idea

Pair up with a peer in your class, exchange rough drafts of your story and use the guide to help fill out a useful peer reflection.

When you are done, sit down together and go over all of the feedback and recommendations. Discuss any new ideas that could strengthen the story. Take your peers feedback and alter your story, if needed.

Once finished, find a different peer and repeat the process.

Introduction

  • Is all the information and detail in the introduction necessary to set the tone? If not, what do you think needs to be added.
  • Does it provide a good overview of the idea?
  • Is it a good length to fit with the rest of the paper?
  • Any additional information needed?

Guiding Question

  • Write down the guiding question.
  • Is it clearly portrayed in the story?
  • Is it direct and specific?
  • Is it open ended (not a yes/no question)?

Body

  • Is all the research connected to the guiding question?
  • Is there any unnecessary information?
  • Are the ideas discussed in enough detail?
  • Is there anything confusing or needs clarification?
  • Is the body organized in an effective manner?
  • Is there enough supporting evidence? Is there anything missing?
  • Does it stay on topic?

Conclusion

  • Is the guiding question proved?
  • Does it summarize what the reader has learned by reading the story?
  • Is there anything missing?

Overall Story

  • Is there anything missing from the story?
  • List the three most important points that were discussed in the story, in your opinion.
  • Did you enjoy the story? What did you like the most?
  • Can you think of any improvements that would make this story more effective?
  • What is your own view on this issue?
  • Was the length appropriate?
  • Do you have any ideas or methods on how this story should be presented and promoted?
  • Did you catch any spelling or grammar errors? Is it all in the proper tense?
  • Is it properly referenced (if needed)?