Peer Review

Whether you’re in an online class or a face-to-face class, peer review is an important part of the revision process and is often a required component in a writing class. In the following video, you’ll see students engage in a particular type of peer review called CARES.

Video Transcript
C.A.R.E.S Feedback Method: Peer Writing Reviews – Developed by Andrea Dardello, PhD

Dr. Dardello: Hello, I’m Andrea Dardello, and I developed the C.A.R.E.S Feedback Method. This is a five-step process, which helps students peer review their assignments.

Instructor: Now that you’re in your groups, I’d you to try the C.A.R.E.S Method. Fill out the worksheet I gave you while each person is presenting.

Dr. Dardello: This process works best in groups of three or four. While one student reads his or her paper out loud, the rest of the group will listen and fill out the C.A.R.E.S Feedback form.

Student 1: You’ve chosen a great a topic. I like the way you presented your main points in each paragraph.

Student 2: Thank you.

Student 3: There are some really sound arguments you made as well. You really did your research.

Student 2: I had a lot of great sources.

Student 4: I’m a little confused by your wording in the fourth paragraph. It sounds like you’re switching your point of view.

Student 3: You should stick with one argument.

Student 2: That makes sense.

Student 1: I feel like you left us hanging in the second paragraph. You started to make your point then moved on. Is there any more source information you can use?

Student 2: Definitely, there was so much material available it was hard to make the right choices.

Student 4: Paragraph five didn’t really add to your argument.

Student 2: Really?

Student 3: Yeah, it had a strong beginning and then sort-of meandered. The second half of the paragraph seems unnecessary.

Student 2: Maybe I should leave out those sentences. I could merge paragraph five with the conclusion.

Student 1: That would make your conclusion stand out a lot more.

Student 4: I didn’t really agree with you in the beginning, but, by the end of the paper, I could see where you were coming from.

Student 2: I’m glad.

Student 4: I still don’t agree, but you’ve given me a lot to think about.

Student 3: Your research backed up a lot of the opinions I already had. You really showed what’s important about this argument.

Dr. Dardello: Your group should continue using the C.A.R.E.S Feedback Method until each student has been heard and reviewed. The C.A.R.E.S Feedback Method will help you critically review other’s papers. You will also receive thoughtful input from your peers, which will help your papers improve.

After watching the video, click the image below to download a copy of the CARES feedback form. If you aren’t using this structure for your peer review in your class, you’ll likely be using something similar. The important thing to remember is that feedback from your peers can definitely help make your writing better.

CARES Peer Review Feedback Form

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