Peer Revision 3.1--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. Is there anything that doesn't belong in the essay, that doesn't support the main idea?

C. Does the information that the writer includes support his or her thesis clearly and directly? Indicate below any information that is not relevant.

D. Which method(s) of development has the writer used? Circle the method(s) used: narrative, exemplification, comparison/contrast, cause and effect.

Narrative: are events presented in chronological order? ______ Does the writer use sufficient description to recreate the experience? ________
Exemplification: do all of the examples given support the main idea?
Comparison/contrast: does the writer emphasize that which is not already obvious (either comparison or contrast)?
cause and effect: identify the cause and the effect. Which one does the writer emphasize more: cause or effect?

Discuss in detail how the writer has used the chosen method(s):

E. What additional methods of development could be used?

F. What did you learn from reading this essay?

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. What did you like best about this essay?

J. 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 3.1.

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