Peer review session

Hi class,

For today, we will have a peer review session in which you give feedback to your classmate's outline and get comments about yours at the same time. It's not scary at all as the picture above shows. :D Peer reviews are very helpful and constructive since you can share different perspectives about a similar essay topic with your peers, and in so doing you can reflect your own writing based on what you and your peer discussed.

Students from some cultures do not seem comfortable when they give feedback to peers and get comment from others. However, to peer review is totally different from criticism, which is not healthy and constructive. Also, here are some tips that you keep in mind when peer reviewing, so please take a look. Plus, here is an interesting Youtube video, in which elementary school students do peer-reviewing.

 

For yourself:

1. Think of your reviewer as your partner. Be grateful to their help!

2. Tell your reviewer about the purpose and audience. Don't simply ask reviewers to "look it over".

3. Tell your reviewers what you want them to do. Direct their attention to the particular features you want to have advice about.

4. Stifle your tendency to be defensive. (à It’s quite important because we tend to view suggestions as criticisms. This may halt the willingness of reviewers to give feedback.)

5. Ask your reviewers to explain the reasons for their suggestions.

6. Take notes on your reviewers' suggestions. Don't just let them go!

For reviewers:

1. Think of yourself as a coach, not a judge.

2. Consider all writing by your peer as “works in progress.”

3. After hearing or reading a peer’s writing, briefly summarize it to check that you and your peer are clear about what the peer said or meant to say.

4. Start with what you think is well done. No one likes to hear only negative comments.

5. Be honest in your suggestions for improvement.

6. Based your responses on an understanding of the writing process, and remember that you’re reading drafts, not finished products. All writing can be revised.

7. Give concrete and specific responses. General comments such as “This is good” or “This is weak” don’t offer much help. Describe specifically what is good or weak.

Joy