Responding to peer texts

Once you’ve received copies of your classmates’ papers, you will be reviewing them carefully and critically. Responding to the questions below, compose a response to each writer. You should also make marginal comments throughout the essay–pointing to areas that resonant with you, stand out to you, could use further exploration, need further development, etc. Plan to spend between fifteen and twenty minutes reading, reviewing, and responding to each essay.

Begin your repsonses with a brief summary of the piece.  Tell the writer what you think her/his piece is about.  Next, your responses should let your classmates know two specific strong points in their essay and/or things that struck you/stood out to you and why and one specific area that could be improved upon or that you might have questions about. Explain why and how you think the writing might be strengthened. We are focusing here on the essay as a whole, rather than more minor problems of editing (e.g. grammar/mechanics).

Questions to consider:

1. Do the title and introduction engage you and provide a context for the essay?

2. How well does the essay vividly present and reflect upon experience?

3. Are there any aspects of the experience that seem unclear or undeveloped? Does the piece need more “backstory”? If so, where?

4. Does the essay (a) connect this experience with a broader psychological or social issue (b) offer a clear perspective on the experience presented? Are there any secondary sources that you might suggest? If the writer has already integrated outside sources, comment on the way(s) in which the writer uses these source(s) in the essay: Does the connection between the source(s) and the experience/argument seem clear? Are quotations well selected and appropriate in length? (As a general rule, it is best to avoid long block quotes in short experiental essays).

5. Is the essay clearly organized so that you can follow the movement of thought? Are there any sections, paragraphs or sentences that would work better if reordered? Does the writer transition effectively within and between paragraphs and sections?

6. How effective is the conclusion in (a) dynamically closing the piece and/or (b) opening up reflection to broader issues?

7. Point out or comment on sentence level errors you’ve noticed.

In class we will do a “mock” workshop.

Two options for responding:

1. Utilize the “track changes” and “comments” feature of Word. Respond to your peers’ essay on the computer, within the word processing program. Save the document with your comments and e-mail back to the student and CC me a copy as well.

2. Print out the essay and respond in writing. Sign your name to the bottom of your final comments. Give this back to the writer–who will then turn this in with her/his final draft.

Workshop guidelines modified from:

Walsh, Andrea. Writing and Experience: Exploring Self in Society

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Writing-and-Humanistic-Studies/21W-731-1Spring2004/CourseHome/index.htm

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