Peer Revision 2.1--ENGL 101-RDTN

University of South Dakota

Writer's Name ____________________  Readers' Names: ___________________________

ALL READERS: You may have to write on the back of the page if you're the 3rd, 4th, 5th ... reader.]

I. AS you read, ANNOTATE the essay (write in the margins) as follows:

Wherever the THESIS (main idea) is directly stated in the paper, write "thesis" beside it in the margin;
Put a "!" in the margin beside every good, interesting, and/or effective passage in the essay.
Put a "?" in the margin beside any section of the essay that is unclear.
Write any other helpful comment that occurs to you, including such comments as "unclear," "more details," "expand this Ś."

II. AFTER you've read, answer the following questions IN WRITING:

A. State the thesis or purpose of the essay. If the thesis is not clear, state that here.

B. Identify any part that is NOT clear.

C. Identify at least one change in format that would make the instructions clearer and more accessible to a reader.

D. What methods of development does the writer use? (narration, description, comparison/contrast, exemplification, definition, classification, etc.) Give concrete examples of how the writer uses these methods.

E. What additional methods of development could be used?

F. What part of the writer's instructions did you find most useful?

G. Are there some paragraphs that need amplification? In other words, do some ideas or statements need to be expanded?

H. Does the paper have an attention-getting introduction? Does the conclusion of the essay seem sufficiently connected to the introduction?

I. Is there anything that doesn't belong in the essay, that doesn't support the main idea?

J. Could a simple drawing or picture strengthen the effectiveness of this essay?

K. What did you like best about this essay?

L. What was the weakest part of the essay?

During the last ten minutes of class, you should write in your journal. Read peer revision responses to YOUR essay; then answer the following questions.

Who did the best job of giving you feedback on your essay? Why?
Which comment or suggestion did you find most helpful?
Which comment or suggestion did you find leasthelpful?

Now: evaluate yourself as a reader/responder to other writers' essays:

How well did YOU do at peer-revising other students' essays?
What was the best comment or suggestion you made today?

Don't forget to date your journal entry; label the entry Peer Revision 2.1.

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