Paper Critique and Peer Review Framework

Overview

Writing constructive peer reviews is a core academic skill. This framework provides a systematic approach to evaluating manuscripts — from initial read-through to the final referee report. It covers what reviewers should assess, how to structure feedback, and how to calibrate between different review outcomes (accept, revise, reject). Applicable to conference papers, journal articles, and internal lab reviews.

The Three-Pass Review Method

Pass 1: Orientation (15-20 minutes)

Read only these elements:

• Title, abstract, and keywords
• Introduction (first and last paragraphs)
• Section headings and figure captions
• Conclusion