12 Multimodal Essay Peer Review Assignment Guidelines

Introduction: Why do we need to review drafts at all? This may be a question some of you are wondering. In short, writing is a process that involves various stages:  prewriting, drafting, revising, editing/proofreading, and publishing. No writers—not even famous ones—generate a perfect final version of their work on a first attempt.

Participating in peer review can also help you:

• Learn how to read carefully, with attention to the details of a piece of writing (whether your own or another writer’s);
• Learn how to strengthen your writing by taking into account the responses of actual and anticipated readers;
• Make the transition from writing primarily for yourself or for an instructor to writing for a broader audience–a key transition for students as they learn to write university-level papers and as they prepare for post-graduate work;
• Learn how to formulate and communicate constructive feedback on a peer’s work;
• Learn how to gather and respond to feedback on your own work.

Part 1: Photo Essay

• Is the photo essay at least five frames in length and no more than ten frames (plus a Works Cited slide if needed)? Does each slide seem necessary to convey the author’s point? Do you have suggestions on how this could be improved?
• Each slide should incorporate small, strategically composed text to complement the selected images and to guide the reader. Does each slide do this? Are the captions free from grammatical errors? Do they clarify the image for you? Give an example of how they do this. Do you have suggestions on how this could be improved?
• The photo essay should offer readers a clear message. Identify the message. Do you have suggestions on how this could be improved?
• The final slide should identify a problem in this community. The author should also include a solution to this problem. Give an example of how the final slide does this. Do you have suggestions on how this could be improved?
• The writer should have used PowerPoint to complete this portion of the assignment. Did they?
• Did the writer include any images found on the internet and/or taken by a photographer? Did they include a properly formatted MLA Works Cited slide?

Part 2: Reflective Memo

Introduction:

• A strong introduction should contain detailed background information. Does the writer clearly describe the community to which they belong? The memo should have a thesis that states a compelling position or belief. Does the introduction do this? Is the introduction engaging and does it create interest? Give an example of how it does this. Do you have suggestions on how this could be improved?

Main points:

• The body of the memo should reflect upon and analyze the photo essay’s rhetorical triangle (its use of ethos, pathos, and logos). It should also describe the process the writer went through to focus their main idea. The memo should analyze the photos the writer used as well as the captions accompanying each photo. Give an example of how the memo does this. Do you have suggestions on how this could be improved?
• Does each body paragraph begin with a summarizing topic sentence?
• Are all the sentences in the paragraph related to the same topic?  
• Are there sufficient details, clearly explained?

Conclusion:

• A good conclusion should effectively wrap up the memo and go beyond restating the thesis. Does it do this? How can this be improved?

Organization:

• There should be a logical progression of ideas with a clear structure that enhances the thesis. Does the memo do this?
• Transitions should be mature and graceful. Are they?
• Can you see a specific organizational pattern? (for instance, is the memo organized chronologically? Is the memo organized by theme? Something else?)

Style:

• The language should be natural yet thought-provoking. It should bring the topic to life. The reader should feel a strong sense of interaction with the writer and senses the person behind the words. The writing should be smooth, skillful, and coherent. The sentences should be strong and expressive with varied structure. Are these things apparent in the memo? How could they be improved?
• Is the writer’s voice apparent?  Is it consistent throughout the memo?
• Are there slang or colloquial expressions to be corrected?

Mechanics:

• The memo’s punctuation, spelling, and capitalization should be correct. Are there errors that distract? What suggestions can you offer the writer?
• Is the memo in the proper format with the correct header? Is it single spaced? Does it meet the 500- to 600-word count requirement?