Peer Review: Evaluation of an Argument

Check yes or no for each question. Explain your answer in the space provided. Only fully completed forms will receive full credit.

Yes NoDoes the summary begin by identifying the title, author, and main argument of the article? Does the summary provide enough information for you to understand the analysis without having read the article for yourself?

Does the thesis indicate whether or not the argument in the article is reasonable AND has sufficient evidence to support the claims? Does the thesis identify at least two or more elements (types of appeals, evidence, organization, logical fallacies, etc.) that will be evaluated in the essay? List those elements below.

Does your partner provide a specific example from the text to demonstrate each element? EX: If your partner claims the article is full of ad hominem attacks, does she/he provide examples of those ad hominem attacks?

Does your partner explain why each element represents a strength or weakness to the overall effectiveness of the article? That is, it’s not enough to say there are a lot of generalizations—does your partner explain why those generalizations detract from or undermine the argument?

Does your partner avoid including his or her personal opinion on the subject? If not, where do you see your partner drifting away from objective critique to personal response?

Does the conclusion review the overall effectiveness of the argument without simply restating the thesis?