PEER EDITING: definitions  A draft is a version of a paper. The first version of a paper that you write is called the first draft. Every time you change parts of the writing, you produce a new draft. The final draft of your paper—the one you turn in—is probably at least a third or fourth draft.  A peer edit happens a few days before a paper is due. The instructor tells the students to bring in two or more copies of a complete draft of the paper. Students form small groups, exchange their drafts, read each others’ drafts, and edit them using a set of prompts provided by the instructor. Peer edits are an important and mandatory part of this class.

WHY PEER EDIT?  You need to learn how to read your own and other people’s papers critically and constructively. It’s a real-life skill that is marketable and much appreciated by bosses, coworkers, and family. You’ll also appreciate that you can get some perspective on your own writing. That takes training.

TRUSTING OTHER STUDENTS  You might wonder how you are supposed to trust another student to grade your paper. After all, aren’t they at the same level as you are?  First of all, no student will grade your paper. I will grade it.  Second, what another student can do for you is provide some intelligent, realistic responses to your writing. While they may not catch every error, you will be surprised at what they do catch.  And, as an editor yourself, you will soon learn that most of your own instincts, when you read a paper, are correct.  Finally, if you want an instructor to help you, use the tutors at the Writing Center and/or make an appointment with me.

WHAT IF…  What if you get partnered with an editor who is at a lower level than you are? ○ First, be careful about the assumptions you make. The student you think is too young or too dumb may be anything but. ○ Second, you will not be stuck with the same one or two peer editors all term. ○ However, if you get a lazy or blank editor, you need to raise your hand, ask me over to your desk, and ask me to check up on how you are doing. I’ll check all the students in the group, and part of my job is to coach weak editors into being stronger ones. ○ Again, you can go beyond in-class peer edits by using the Writing Center on campus.

CONSTRUCTI VE CRITICISM?  Constructive criticism is a way of making a suggestion for change without making your fellow student feel like a failure. This does not mean that you need to be false about your compliments. Nor do you need to be unresponsive just so that you don’t offend someone.  Write on the draft. Be polite and specific in your comments.

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM!  Be polite and specific in your comments.  For instance, if you write, “Confusing” in the margin, your partner will likely take it negatively, yet he won’t know what to correct. Instead, write something like, “Confusing here. Up to this point, your paragr. had been about elem. School, but here you’re talking about high school. Need a transition?”

 See the difference between these two comments?  The second one requires more work by the editor. You really have to figure out what is bothering you as a reader and articulate it. However, that second comment is more likely to get a better response from the writer. It’s just more helpful. Your job as an editor is to help and get help.