 Reading Quiz  Peer Critiques  Evaluating Peer Critiques

 Reading 8 is very lengthy, so get started as soon as possible.

1. What is a critique? 2. List two of the five “Guidelines for Writing Critiques” in the textbook. 3. Critiques should include a statement of your own ___. 4. In the “Demonstration: Critique” section of today’s reading, there are boxes in the left margin of the text. In one sentence, describe the purpose/function of the boxes. 5. “The most helpful reviewers are interested in the topic and the writer’s approach to it. They___(fill in the blank with at least one of the four things that follow). 6. “You want to ____ the writer what does and doesn’t work about particular aspects of the draft” 7. The e-handbook recommends that you think of your response to the writer as a _____ to the writer. 8. List one of the three stages of a draft. 9. List three of the fourteen “Guidelines for peer review” in the e-handbook. 10. List one thing a reviewer would want to focus on in a late-stage draft.

1. “A critique is a formalized, critical reading of a passage.” 2. “Conclusions.” 3. Introduce, summarize, assess the presentation, respond to the presentation, conclude. 4. The purpose of the boxes is to demonstrate what the critique writer is doing well and what he or she could be doing better. 5. Ask questions, make concrete suggestions, report on what is confusing and why, and offer encouragement. 6. Show 7. Letter 8. Early, intermediate, late. 9. Overall thoughts; Assignment; title and introduction; thesis and purpose; audience; Rhetorical stance; major points; visuals; organization and flow; paragraphs; sentences; words; tone; conclusion. 10. “…first and last impressions, sentence construction, word choice, tone, and format.”

 Raider Writer assignment this week is to critique two other 1301 students’ Draft 1.1’s.  Discussion:  What do bad peer critiques do?  What do good peer critiques do?

Objective: To demonstrate your ability to write a critique based on a primary source (a peer's essay). Purpose: Having others read your writing is a good way to find out if your document is reaching its intended audience. In this assignment, you will read the drafts of two of your peers and write a critique of each. Description: To complete this assignment, use the guidelines on p. 63 of your textbook and compose a critique of your peers’ drafts. For each critique, you will introduce the draft, summarize its main points, assess and respond to the author's presentation, and offer conclusions about the effectiveness of the analysis. Remember to speak as specifically as possible about the draft, quoting from it when necessary. Your critique will be words in length. The elements of the draft you should address include: Text for analysis/Thesis: Identify the writer's thesis and then evaluate it for effectiveness. Determine whether the writer has selected a particular text to analyze and whether or not the thesis indicates that the writer will complete a rhetorical analysis of the text. Discuss whether the thesis is specific enough and of appropriate scope for this analysis. Explain why or why not, and provide suggestions for the writer to help improve the thesis, if necessary. Quality and Specificity of Analysis: Evaluate the writer’s analysis. Does the writer select specific rhetorical elements of the text to discuss? What are these elements, and what does the writer have to say about them? Does the writer seem to effectively analyze, or does the draft read more as a summary or paraphrasing of parts of the text being analyzed, or does the writer end up arguing about the content, rather than the structure and presentation of the text? Overall Essay Structure: Comment on the overall structure of the essay. For example, explain in detail whether or not the paragraphs are presented in a logical and persuasive way. Does the writer provide a clear introduction, body and conclusion? Does each paragraph begin with a clear topic sentence and transition into the next paragraph? Provide examples that are particularly effective or areas that need more improvement.

 You will critique two peer’s drafts  Use textbook guidelines on pg 63  For each critique, you will:  introduce the draft  summarize its main points  assess the author’s presentation  respond to the author's presentation  offer conclusions about the effectiveness of the analysis.  Be specific and quote from the draft  words in length

 Text for analysis/Thesis  Identify thesis (quote it) and evaluate  Specific? Indicates text for analysis? Lists rhetorical device?  Suggestions for improvement  Quality and Specificity of Analysis:  Rhetorical devices analyzed?  Does the author analyze? Argue? Summarize?  Does the analysis focus on rhetoric over content?  Overall Essay Structure:  Is structure logical? Persuasive?  Clear intro, body, conclusion?  Topic sentences and transitions?  Examples of strong and weak

 Intro and Summary  Assess and respond to the thesis, analysis, and structure (answer questions on prompt)  Conclusion  Should speak in second person  You  Remember it is like a letter to the writer  Use a positive and professional tone!  Be respectful of each others’ efforts.

 Go to “Turn in/Manage Writing”  Scroll down to “Peer Critique”  Click “Submit Now”  Will see draft to critique in box above instructions  You will do this twice by Monday at 11:59 p.m.!

 Page 114  We will read the analysis as a class.  We will answer the assignment prompts for this analysis:  Text for analysis/Thesis  Identify thesis (quote it) and evaluate  Specific? Indicates text for analysis? Lists rhetorical device?  Suggestions for improvement  Quality and Specificity of Analysis:  Rhetorical devices analyzed?  Does the author analyze? Argue? Summarize?  Does the analysis focus on rhetoric over content?  Overall Essay Structure:  Is structure logical? Persuasive?  Clear intro, body, conclusion?  Topic sentences and transitions?  Examples of strong and weak

 On separate sheet of paper  Summarize and evaluate how well the author of each critique addressed:  Text for analysis/Thesis  Quality and specificity of analysis  Overall essay structure  Write in paragraph form, 1-3 sentences for each issue  Similar to the boxes in margins of example critiques in textbook

 Peer Critiques due Monday, Oct 18, 11:59 p.m.  E-Handbook Ch. 6 (except 6b); Ch. 7; Ch. 26, 27 & 29