Performing Peer Reviews

A presentation I took from my team on performing peer reviews.

Transcript

2. Agenda 0 What is a peer review? 0 Why are peer reviews done? 0 Who does a peer review? 0 When to do a peer review? 0 Where to do peer reviews? 0 How to do a peer review? 2
3. What? A peer review is a review of an individual's writing by a fellow team member. Peer-reviewing is a good way to become a better writer because it provides experience in looking critically at writing. The objective is to improve the document. 3
4. Why? 0 As reviewers 0 Allows understanding new features in products. 0 Learn from others to improve themselves. 0 As authors 0 Provides opportunities to improve one’s writing. 0 Allows identifying the writer’s blind spots. 4
5. Who? 0 Anyone in the team can be a peer reviewer. 0 If in the same product team, you can review for technical accuracy also. 5
6. When? 0 Before sending for a technical/editorial review 0 Do not have parallel reviews (peer/technical). 0 Ensure you allow sufficient time for PR. 6
7. Where? 0 Ask for the PDF. 0 Do it at your desk. 0 Do not do over-the-shoulder reviews. 0 Set aside some time to review. 7
8. How? 0 Do not do over-the-shoulder reviews. 0 Set aside some time to review. 0 Use checklists 0 Avoid 0 Judging the writer. Judge the writing. 0 Avoid biases (product or functional). 8
9. Questions for Reviewers 0 How does this comment improve the document? 0 Provide suggestions or improvements. 0 Make the authors learn. 0 Am I introducing new errors as part of my review? 0 When in doubt, ask the author. 9
10. Questions for Authors 0 It's hard enough to find an error in your document when you're looking for it; it's even harder when you've assumed your document is error-free. 0 Do a self-review before sending. 0 Learn from the comments. 10
11. Questions for Authors 0 Question comments when in doubt. 0 Did you not convey the subject? 0 Was your writing not clear? 0 Were you simply careless? Identify and take corrective actions accordingly. 11
12. Finally 0 There is no such thing as perfectly written document.  0 There is always some scope for improvement (whether you are an author or a reviewer). 12
13. Questions? 13
14. Thank You 14