What is Peer Editing? a teaching technique in which students read, and comment on each other's written work

What are the three steps in the process? Step 1 – Overview of the paper’s strengths Step 2 – Suggestions Step 3 – Corrections

How should you always start your peer edit? Always start your peer editing by mentioning the paper’s particular strengths. Tell the writer what you think he or she did well: Your strengths as a writer are ________ These examples are excellent because… Your strongest section is ________ This was really intriguing because… I liked the way you_________…

Criticisms are not allowed when peer editing another person’s paper

Step 2 – Suggestions… Remember – stay positive and be specific in your comments. Make them from the point of view of a reader, so that you communicate where the problem is for their audience. It’s also a very good idea to phrase your comments as questions you are asking them to answer – to show them where they need to go further in their explanation, in their use of evidence, or where the logic of their argument is unclear. Also, by phrasing your comments from a reader’s point of view, you don’t make absolute claims and don’t run the risk of hurt feelings. Hurt feelings rarely have a positive effect on a person’s desire to change the way they do things – they are more likely to react negatively and aggressively to suggestions.

Step 2 – Suggestions… Instead of, “It doesn’t make sense,” say something like: “Unpack your ideas here. Right now I’m having trouble understanding what you mean but if you explain it more fully it might become clear.” Instead of, “Your word choice was boring or inaccurate,” say something like: “I find the repetition of terms distracting; consider revising here,” or “I’m not following this; can you be more specific in your use of terms?”

Step 3 – Corrections… The third step in the peer editing process is making corrections. Corrections means checking your peer’s paper for: Spelling mistakes Grammar mistakes Missing punctuation Incomplete or run-on sentences

Example: We where all over my aunts house when my dog Riley was running around like crazy. He was chasing me around in circles. all of a suden I look and riley he was in the pool! swimming in my aunts pool. I couldn’t believe my eyes that the dog was in the pool. I dashed to the pool and jumpd in and swan over to Riley and pulled him to the steps. He got out and shook all over us like a sprinkler on a hot day. I was glad riley was o.k. and that I saved him.