To: Janice Pang, member of The Pencil Pack
From: Jenny Zhang, member of The Pencil Pack
Date: September 24, 2019
Subject: Peer Review of Your Polymerase Chain Reaction Definition
Link to Definition: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-99a-2019wa/2019/09/22/technical-definitions-polymerase-chain-reaction/
Hi Janice,
I have reviewed your three types of definitions for the term Polymerase Chain Reaction. It is clear from your writing that you are very well versed in the area of biology. Overall, I really enjoyed reading and learning about Polymerase Chain Reaction. Your assignment is well-written and organized.
Audience: Your writing is very professional and well referenced. However, as a layperson, who has taken biology up to the high school level, I may have a good understanding of what it would be like for the intended audience described in your introduction. For me, I found it difficult to depict what a few jargons are. The word Polymerase appears in your definition and you have used the world multiple times throughout your explanations, maybe it’s just me but I didn’t know what it was. Another word I thought you could give a small explanation for is primers. What are they?
Organization
Your assignment is well organized. Each of you sections is clearly labelled so the structure is easy to follow. You also employed different methods to expand on your definition including what it is, what is needed, how it works and how it can be used. The visual you included shows the process of how PCR works adding further clarity.
Overall impressions
On my first reading, I found your parenthetical and sentence definitions to be easy to understand. The expanded definition is descriptive and informative. You successfully explain the term in a straight forward, clear and concise way. Another suggestion I have, would be in the section “What is the origin of PCR?”. For the last sentence, I don’t think that the mention of Kary Mullis being awarded money and a Nobel prize to be necessary. It is more about the achievement of Kary Mullis.
Citations:
The citations are well formatted and allow the reader to see that the information comes from reputable sources. I understand that the in-text citations are useful in proving the credibility of facts stated, but it was a bit overwhelming and distracting as a reader. For example, in the section “What is needed for PCR?” the same citation appears multiple times consecutively. I suggest consolidating the citations by mentioning the referenced source in the beginning and then again at the end of the text to make it easier and cleaner to read.
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