FamilySearch Wiki:Peer review

Peer Review Criteria Peer review is the process of reading another contributor’s article and then making note of its strengths and weaknesses. In noting the weaknesses, the reviewer makes comments or suggestions which could help improve the format and clarity of the article, including correcting any factual and/or grammatical errors. When successfully completed, a peer review is a useful tool for improving the quality of the articles appearing on the Family Search Wiki site.

Please adhere to the following criteria when offering peer review of any of the articles contained on the Family Search Wiki:

1. Read the entire article before attempting to review it. Re-read it as you conduct your review. 2. Be kind and courteous in your choice of words. Be honest in your concerns or appraisal of the article, but consider the contributor’s possible reaction to your comments. 3. Consider the organization of the article. Does it state the topic clearly at the beginning? If so, this enables readers to decide whether or not the article would interest them. Is there anything in the article which does not seem to belong? Perhaps it could be the subject of a future article instead. 4. Check for clarity. Is the article easy to understand? Is the vocabulary suitable for a lay audience? If you see words you believe many people would not understand, you could suggest that the contributor offer an explanation of the word or find a different expression, if possible 5. Check for citations where applicable. If all the information in the article is the original thought of the contributor, no cites are needed; however, if the contributor refers to other sources of information, he or she must give appropriate credit. 6. Check the mechanics of the article. Some errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling may be typographical, but it is your responsibility to bring these mistakes to the contributor’s attention. 7. Do not argue with the contributor. If your opinion differs from theirs, it is not your role to disagree. If you are certain that a particular fact is incorrect, you should provide your sources of information when noting the error. 8. Do not attempt to rewrite the article. Your aim is constructive criticism to help improve the article, but it is the contributor who must make the changes. 9. Re-read your comments before you submit your review. Don’t overwhelm the contributor with too many suggestions. If you need to talk to him or her, please make contact on the Discussion tab or the User Talk page. 10. Enjoy the challenge and know that your work is appreciated!