Peer
Evaluation for Book Review #3 (On Being a
Muslim by Farid Esack)
Your Name: _____________________________
Reviewer’s Name: ____________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Read through the book review and evaluate the assignment. Answering the following questions will help you in your assessment.
1. STURCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
1.1 Produce a brief outline of the review. What are its different parts? Do they plausibly follow one from the other?
1.2 Pay particular attention to the opening paragraph and the conclusion: Does the opening paragraph gain the reader’s attention and interest? Does the review have a conclusion that makes a satisfying closing statement? Suggest ways to improve these sections.
1.3 Which part of the review is the clearest? Why?
1.4 Which part of the review is least clear or most difficult to understand? Why? Suggest improvements.
2. ARGUMENT AND
KNOWLEDGE
2.1
What is the
reviewer’s main point of criticism (positive/negative) regarding Esack’s work? Briefly summarize it in your own words.
2.2
How could the argument be improved?
2.3 Does the reviewer adequately represent Esack’s major ideas? Note (if there are) specific places where the author misrepresents or misunderstands Esack. What information or discussion is missing from the review?
2.4 Think of something Esack wrote that would complicate the reviewer’s critique? Suggest how the reviewer might integrate this point?
3. WRITING MECHANICS (circle problem areas)
3.1 Proofreading, word choice/usage
3.2 Awkward or unclear sentence structure, grammar or syntax, sentence fragments, transition between sentences, punctuation
3.3 Organization into paragraphs, organization or structure within paragraphs, transitions between paragraphs
3.4 Are there sentences that would sound better and be more effective if combined? (identify on book review)
3.5 Are there sentences that would sound better and be more effective if broken up in shorter sentences? (identify on book review)
4. TECHNICAL STUFF
4.1 Does the reviewer provide documentation where needed? (There are many ways to handle references. The question you should ask is “Can the reader locate the sources quickly and easily?”)
4.2 Are citations in the correct format? Are quotation marks and punctuation marks in the correct place? Are block quotes used correctly? (make corrections in the paper)
4.3 Are the pages numbered?
4.4 Is there a title for the review? Make suggestions.
5.1 List the two strongest things about this paper and describe to the author why they work so well.
5.2 Name two things that the author can improve in a revision of this assignment and give suggestions as to how this can be done.