Guide to peer reviewing academic journals, getting it right Are you an academic writer? Then you should seriously consider peer reviewing to keep up with literary gimmicks to one your writing skills once in awhile. Here are a few nifty tips on how you can be a peer-review pro with just a few minor adjustments.
Tip no. 1 Make sure you come off as formal as possible: the academic environment is a serious one, so it is necessary that you come off as professional as possible. Being a reputed reviewer, you are the peer in the academic environment. Reviewing someone else’s paper is one of the core responsibilities of your job so, make sure you do it seriously with professional conduct. This will go on to show that you are both an academic as well as someone who can take up a professional job role. This is the most effective way to keep up with literature and also expand your own vocabulary and writing abilities.
Tip no. 2 Maintain polite behavior: even if an academic paper you have reviewed is truly awful, you can reject it but keep the remarks as professional and pleasant as possible. Do not engage in direct offensive remarks towards the writer and stick to critically analyzing the paper itself. Remember a rejection for all writers is an awful experience but it should work to make their writing abilities better and have a positive impact. Do not write hurtful words in a peer review that you will not say to a person’s face. You might have to meet this person after the seminar at a bar or a gathering, direct offence will only make such personal interactions complicated afterwards.
Tip no. 3 Read the invite thoroughly: the email that invites people to review a paper or an academic journal usually comes with a link. Many do not open the link and send a long apology letter to the sender stating reasons behind why it is not the best time for you to review the paper. But understand something not all papers want you to review the paper right away, open the link and read the deadline and the requirements of the paper. There may be chances that you will not need to get on reviewing it right away. Tip no. 4 Be of some help instead of just poking holes: poking holes in something is the easiest thing to do in the world. But you have been given the duty to peer review the paper so that you can actually suggest some improvements to address the problems in the material. Understand a peer review is not only about setting revisions, or simply rejecting or accepting a paper. The suggestions should be meaningful enough to tell the author what is good about the paper and what is not. But such objectives will not be met if the review is too short, make sure you are voluble and recommend meaningful alternatives.