I. About Prospectus Essay:

• What is my core argument (thesis), and where do I state it most clearly?

My peer review partner Emilie believes that my core argument is about how videos become viral even when not much effort was put into making them. She thinks I was clear about my focus on viral videos in my first paragraph.   

 

• How well have I targeted students as an audience with my essay? Get specific answers.

This essay targeted students as the audience well. Specifically, I introduced the personal experience of developing a movie with more than ten fellow students to emphasize the reasons behind my research. Since many of us are all going to move on to our carrier after graduation, we are all connected to the future plans that I mentioned. Also, I explained some of the jargon so that students not in that field could understand them better.

 

• Is my research question narrowed enough for a ten-page research project, and is its relevance made clear in my introduction?

It seems so. My peer review partner can see what I am trying to do with the research topic. The second half of the first paragraph made a truthful connection to myself and made the project relevant. 

 

• What are my supporting points that prove my thesis? Is my project’s organization clearly articulated in my introduction? Does my introduction have a roadmap for you the reader?

My supporting points are pictured by the “strip” that explains the formation of vitality in terms of internal and external factors. My introduction provides some information about my overall structure and roadmap in the sense of the reason for the research (my personal experience). 

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• Do I have topic sentences / controlling ideas for each body paragraph where a supporting point is tied to my thesis?

Yes. For example, the first sentence in the second paragraph is the research question and discusses finding resources. These sentences transition readers to topics I have been talking about. 

 

• Have I incorporated my sources effectively into each body paragraph? Do I only quote when necessary? Do I embed quoted phrases into my own sentences? In other words, how well do I synthesize my sources?

Yes, the sources are integrated and synthesized effectively. Quotes are used where needed and where they would make sense. Also, I quote after explaining how I found the source and mention what is in that source. I also integrated two sources into one paragraph to present the bigger picture. 

 

• What are the strengths of my draft so far?

The strongest aspect is the clear-stated reasons behind my research. These reasons are well-connected to the purpose of this project and present a proper sense of passion for the project. 

 

• What do I need to work on most?

Data and statistics. She would like to see more data supporting my point, and she is very interested in more information about the Instagram algorithms case. 

 

• What did you learn from reading my essay?

She learned about the “cycle” of spreading information (what I call the “Möbius strip of virality”). And moreover, she learned more about me, my interests, and my ideas.  

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• My research question is currently “what factors are contributing to the virality of online videos?” But I also like the idea to change it to “What are the secrets behind the viral spreading of online videos?” Which title do you prefer and why?

She likes “what are the secrets behind the viral spreading of online videos?” Better. It seems more exciting and would persuade more readers to read the research essay. 

 

• After previewing these questions, I found that I may have mistaken the requirements of this project — the mind map lacks things like hooks to quotes. Do you think I should do brief paragraphs instead?

The mind map looks good. It gives a clear structure that goes straight into the project.

 

 

II. About Annotated Bibliography:

• Do I have 3 scholarly sources and 2 other, credible, solid sources in my draft Annotated Bibliography (for 5 total)? Does each entry have two descriptive paragraphs with the requisite information? 

Yes, all sources in the annotated bibliography seem to be genuine scholarly sources, and I included two paragraphs of required information under each source. 

 

• Do I have 3 entries for now in my draft Works Cited, and are they in detailed MLA format?

Yes. They look like MLA citations organized in alphabetical order. 

 

• Does my first paragraph successfully persuade you that I am internally motivated to investigate on in this topic? (To do longer research projects, I think I need to be motivated internally — from my heart)

The first paragraph's second half conveyed a strong passion by connecting research topics to my own experiences. She can feel a strong wish to explore this topic after reading my draft. ​

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Step III. Reflection and Plan for Revision (on my own, after the interview):

• What were the areas of agreement with your reviewer?

We both agree that I made the reason and motivation of the research clear by relating it to my experiences and future aspiration. Moreover, we agree that sources are effectively integrated within the text. 

 

• What were the areas of disagreement with your reviewer?

I do not think my overall roadmap and structure were clearly articulated in my introduction. Currently, the introduction is only about research aspirations and the reasons behind them. If I stick with the mind map, I need to integrate it better with the texts, especially by adding some hooks to the structure early on. 

 

• What do you think about their suggestions? With which do you agree, and with which do you disagree?

Emilie suggests that I support my claims with data and analytics and focus more on the Instagram algorithms case. I definitely agree that I need to integrate some analytical data to either deduce a trend or find numbered proof for my main points. However, in my opinion, the Instagram case is only a “hook” of this project, and I need to see how the project would play out to see if more information about it needs to be included.

 

• Write a plan for revision below (focus on the specific activities and approaches you will work on with this Project—note at least three major steps):

1. Slightly adjust the wording to avoid confusion and digression. For example, my experience with high- and low-quality videos caused some confusion about my actual thesis — about viral videos, not high- or low-qualities videos specifically. 

2. Further research is needed to gather analytical data, more sources, and ideas to enhance or construct a better overall structure. 

3. I am thinking about restructuring the essay after being inspired by the peer review process to make the essay seem more like a prospectus with a clear natural flow rather than grouped responses to the project prompts.