memo

Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

To: Dr. Musselman

From: Patrick Sanford
CC: Julianne Ferguson
Date: 05/30/2017
Re: Peer Review Project 2

Summary: The Norway Maple Tree is an invasive species of tree which is detrimental to the
native species of trees and forest undergrowth. It grows very rapidly an reproduces
at a great rate with very high seed production. The tree can grow in many varied
environments from damp swamps to more arid climates and in soil, which other
plants cannot colonize. In this way the Norway Maple outcompetes native species.
There are several possible control methods, the best of which is simply to rip the
saplings up by the roots. States such as Massachusetts have already begun to ban
the planting and sale of the tree in an effort to maintain native species. Studies have
indicated that the Norway Maple is not as good for herbivores as the native species
and that it has a negative impact on the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem which
in turn is bad for the proper structure and functioning of the food web.

Major Overall the organization of the sections made sense, especially starting with how
Points: the tree was a threat to the native habitat. The abstract was very informative, but it
was very similar to the information provided in the introduction. Some of the
information provided in the abstract seemed very much like background
information, which would be better suited to the introduction. The results section
felt as though it was in a pseudo bullet point format. It might have been better to
combine them into a single paragraph with a more cohesive theme of impacts of
the tree on the ecosystem. The conclusion acted as a good end to the paper, but
some of the information provided would fit better in the body section of the paper
such as the quote: The most effective method for control of invasive tree species
involves the use of systemic Many reviews also end with a discussion of where
the research will go in the future, which might be good in this context especially
with the author discussing how the trees have already been banned in
Massachusetts. Overall the citations were correct and the number of citations
 provided were numerous enough to instill confidence in the research described in
the paper. While the review provided a good insight into current research on the
Norway Maple, it might be improved by at least briefly focusing on why this
research is done. Why is it a problem if the Norway Maple takes over from the
native one?

Minor Overall the grammar and spelling were correct and understandable. There were a
Points: few cases where the phrasing was a bit awkward and could be improved. In the
Allelopathy chemical section there is a passage: It has receded itself so easily
receded is the wrong word here, it should be reseeded. In the fast-spreading seeds
section there is a line: they both through the study proved to both have equal
photosynthesis performance in low-light and this phrasing seems slightly awkward
and could be improved. In the methods section it is stated Massachusetts has
recently taking a step toward, and in this instance it should be taken and not
taking. Finally, the title of the Methods section is confusing. Typically in papers
such as these methods indicate the ways in which research was performed. Instead,
consider a phrasing such as Methods of Combatting Norway Maple Invasion.