Peer Review
Name
Course Name
Instructor
Name
PEER REVIEW A –PIT BULLS
Writer’s name: ___________________________________
Reviewer’s name:_________________________________
Present the author’s thesis in your own words and discuss whether it is persuasive and whether it provides an accurate guide to the direction of the paper.
Pit bulls are a very dangerous breed of dogs. Despite their security and training capabilities, these make harmful pets. Their aggressiveness and meanness is a risk to the safety of those around them. The author uses solid arguments and examples to prove that pit bulls are harmful and cannot make good pets.
Which are the essay’s strongest arguments? Why?
The theme of the essay is the harmful nature of pit bulls. The author emphasizes the dangers of the pit bull, and disapproves them as pets. Solid arguments and real life incidences are used to disapprove of pit bulls. This argument is quite convincing.
Which are the essay’s weakest arguments? Why?
The author does not emphasize to people against having pit bulls as pets. She points out the dangers of pit bulls, but does not contextualize this in real life situations that people can identify with. This is not convincing enough for the reader to adopt the author’s opinions.
What counterargument(s) are addressed and rebutted? If they are not present, suggest at least one counterargument and how the author might answer it.
One counter-argument is that pit bulls are good at providing security in homes due to their aggressive nature, and can be trained to offer protection to people. However, the author is not convinced that this can be a reason enough to own a pit bull.
Does the author use signal phrases to introduce quotes? (Signal phrases are discussed in more detail in section 10g of The New Century Handbook.) If so, provide an example. If not, suggest the correct way to do this.
The author does not use signal phrases before quotations. She should have used these to mark a boundary between the author’s words and the information in the quoted source. For example, she would have said, “According to the CDC, almost 5 million people a year are bitten by dogs in the United States. ..”
Are all quotations followed by in-text citations that include the page or paragraph number?
The author uses quotes from other sources, and ensures to provide an in-text citation. For example, “Pit bulls were originally used for bull- and bear-baiting, and later were bred to fight dogs in an arena.” (WebMD, 2005-2012).
Are all quotations followed by explanations that interpret the quote?
The author uses a few phrases to relate to the quotes used. For example, “Many of these cases are fatal, or leave kids disfigured for life.” (Momlogic, 2010). After this quote, the a author explains how she can never leave her children in the presence of pit bulls, as they can harm them.
Does the author ever directly address the reader? If so, point out a sentence and show how this sentence could be written more formally.
“Why would we want to take the risk of having a dangerous dog around our children?” This question involves both the author and the reader. It gives the reader an opportunity to participate in the argument.
Make additional comments here (this is the place to share your own thoughts and reactions to the ideas)
This essay is written from an individualistic point of view. Generally, the author is personal and talks from her own point of view. It is not all-inclusive as the author writes from her own context.
PEER REVIEW B – GERMAN SHEPHERDS
Writer’s name: ___________________________________
Reviewer’s name:_________________________________
Present the author’s thesis in your own words and discuss whether it is persuasive and whether it provides an accurate guide to the direction of the paper.
German shepherds are the best pets. Their loyalty, companionship, and protectiveness, makes them preferable, despite their big size and a little hot-temperedness.
Which are the essay’s strongest arguments? Why?
The strongest arguments are on the advantages of having a German shepherd as a pet. The author argues in a convincing manner, and explains all the reasons why German Shepherds are the best pets.
Which are the essay’s weakest arguments? Why?
The author does not address the weaknesses of the German Shepherds in a manner that will make a reader still choose them despite their weaknesses. The author roughly mentions these weaknesses and may make the reader think that these weaknesses have been overlooked, therefore making the whole essay appear biased.
What counterargument(s) are addressed and rebutted? If they are not present, suggest at least one counterargument and how the author might answer it.
The author only addresses the strengths of the German shepherd and does not mention their weakness. She should have based on the big size of the German Shepherds and their hot-tempers to develop a counter-argument in the essay.
Does the author use signal phrases to introduce quotes? (Signal phrases are discussed in more detail in section 10g of The New Century Handbook.) If so, provide an example. If not, suggest the correct way to do this.
The author does not use any quotes in the essay, so there are no in-text citations. Quotes should have been used to credit the sources consulted. Signal verbs would have marked a boundary between the author’s words and the quoted source.
Are all quotations followed by in-text citations that include the page or paragraph number?
The author of this essay does not use any quotations, and there are no in-text citations in this essay.
Are all quotations followed by explanations that interpret the quote?
The essay does not have any quotations or in-text citations.
Does the author ever directly address the reader? If so, point out a sentence and show how this sentence could be written more formally.
In this essay, at no point does the author make any direct address to the reader.
Make additional comments here (this is the place to share your own thoughts and reactions to the ideas)
The author has expressed her views in a commendable way. Her arguments are solid and convincing, while drawing examples from real time incidences. This is a good essay. However, the author could have used a few quotations for in-text citations. The author could have also involved the reader in this argument by making sentences that address the reader directly. This way, a reader identifies with the arguments in the essay and feels part of it.
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