You’ve heard the pitches. You’ve given yours. Now it’s time to review and get reviewed. It’s your final opportunity to offer critiques and receive feedback to help make your project, and those of your classmates, just that much stronger before crossing the finish line.

  1. This activity can be done as a class or in small groups.
  2. Set a time limit for the peer review session and then equally divide that time between each of the pitched projects, ensuring everyone gets to hear feedback on their work.
  3. The reviewers should be using the notes they took during the pitches, as well as the guide below. Consider offering tangible help (where possible) so the reviewee can better implement your advice.
  4. The reviewee is encouraged to record or, at least, take notes of the feedback session. You can refer to this guide on receiving criticism if you’d like. Be sure to ask for examples or tangible help (where possible) from the reviewer if you want to implement their advice.
  5. At the end of the peer review session, everyone should have a better sense of how close they are to completing their final project, and have a list of ideas that can help make it even stronger.
  6. Take the time, at home or during the next class, to rework or refine your final project based on the feedback you’ve received. This might feel like a setback or a failure, but it’s just another step towards a better outcome.

Describe

  • What was your first thought when you heard the pitch?
  • What’s the tone? What style is being used to present the research?
  • Who will it impact? The research? The story?
  • What’s the point of the story?

Analyze

  • What’s the title? What’s the research question the story seeks to answer?
  • How is the story presented or marketed? Is it accurate and reflective of the research or is it overselling its purpose/value?
  • In your opinion, who is the main benefactor of the research?
  • Are there strong supporting elements to back-up the research and give credibility to the story?
  • Are experts interviewed and quoted in the story? Are diverse viewpoints considered and included?
  • Is the research addressing a gap in knowledge or is it improving/deepening existing information?
  • Is the story’s research question big enough? Is it focused? Does it include enough context?
  • Is the research leading? Is it trying to prove one perspective or another?
  • Is the research well-sourced? Are the sources reliable?
  • Is the story’s research and narrative fact or opinion based?
  • Is it missing any important elements?

Interpret

  • Do you think the story will be published?
  • What’s the purpose of the research/story? To offer a solution? To incent an action? To fix a problem?
  • What message does it send to the public?
  • Is the story’s research impactful and effective? Do you think it will achieve its goal?
  • Is there anything confusing that needs clarification?

Evaluate

  • Is the research worthwhile?
  • Does the story strike the right tone? Is it clear?
  • What do you like the most about it? What do you dislike?
  • How will the story and its research be received by reviewers, the media and the public more generally?
  • Is the work free of cultural appropriation, as well as ethical and legal problems?
  • Ultimately, is it a successful or unsuccessful project?
  • Is there anything you would have done differently?