Strategies for Providing Criticism
Whether in peer review or any conversation where your input is solicited, you should always develop responses that are well thought out and thorough. By remembering a few simple concepts you can easily respond and your input will be well received and understood.
For example, in peer review, often times there will be the temptation to just say, "it was great," or "I could not find anything wrong." These type of responses are not always welcome or accepted because often they will be interpreted as "lip service" or just taking the path of least resistance.
So how do we avoid that? Remember to explain in detail. Give an example and suggest a solution to the problem or the value of what has been done if there is no problem. So for the case where you do find something wrong take the three prong approach: 1. Identify the problem. 2. Clarify the problem if needed. 3. Offer a solution or where to look to find it.
An example of problem response: "In paragraph 1 of your essay, I felt that the thesis statement does not clearly identify the problem. You say: 'The effects of social media...,'. I would suggest you identify the effects with language such as positive or negative. Maybe write it like this: 'The negative effects of social media can be examined...'. I think this is a clearer way of stating the problem. My suggestion is based off of the PowerPoint presentation the instructor has uploaded under the course document section of Blackboard. Once you correct this you should be good."
An example where no issues have been found: "I reviewed your thesis statement and found that the way you indicated the areas that you would discuss to show the positive effects of social media in the paper were very clear and well written. You state that video games, social interaction and connectivity were the areas to be examined. In the PowerPoint presentation provided by the instructor, this fits that requirement. Well done."
By responding in detail to the good or bad aspects, you also help develop your own knowledge on how to improve your paper. It’s a win-win if you take the time to be thorough and provide the details needed to help other students and yourself.