Ask your instructor or peer group if there is a form for the peer review. Established guidelines and specific expectations for the peer review are often available to guide you. Prepare to follow these guidelines for your peer review. If there is no form provided, create your own checklist with things to look for such as content quality, main points, grammar and punctuation. Provide room on your checklist to write general opinions of the essay.
Read the essay for the first time without thinking about the task of writing a peer review. Try to understand the key points presented. Ask yourself, "What is the author trying to get across? What is the thesis or main argument?"
Take the peer review form and go over the questions and expectations. Consider questions such as, "Did the essay have a clear direction?" and "Did the essay summarize complex ideas?" Expectations on the form will prompt you to consider the grammar, punctuation, outline and structure of the essay. Take mental notes of these expectations. If you are using your own form, go over it and remind yourself of what you are looking for in the essay.
Re-read the essay. Keep in the back of your mind points form the feedback form. Mark and underline grammar and punctuation mistakes. Write out your thoughts on the essay's clarity and content in the margins.
Fill out the feedback form you were provided or use your own version. Try to be concise with your comments. Use the rating system on the form and explain your scores. Complete the form and submit it.