PEER REVIEWS

1.) We should always write with an audience in mind since most writing is meant for others to read. If we keep this in mind, we can make decisions that will make our writing more effective for our intended audience. Peer review groups thus allow us to “test” our writing on an audience.

2.) Peer review groups can “work” because everyone in class:

• shares some common knowledge about writing
• has an inner sense of what “good writing” is
• is working on the same type of assignment
• wants to do well on the assignment
• wants the class to function well

3.) In peer review groups, you can see how others are responding to the same assignment. You can also learn “what to do” and “what not to do” from reading others’ writing. You can apply all of this to your own writing.

4.) After a peer review session, you can or will often see your own writing in new ways. This will also help you get ideas for revising and editing.

5.) In the early stages, your peer reviewers will give “overall” descriptive reactions to your writing. In the later stages, your peer reviewers will also give evaluative reactions and specific suggestions to improve a piece of writing.

6.) Remember, however, that the writer ultimately “owns” the writing. The writer does not have to use any or all of the peer review comments. But, the writer should listen carefully to and accept all suggestions; he or she can later choose those suggestions that are helpful and can ignore the rest.

7.) While peer reviews can be uncomfortable at first, especially if you are not used to them, please make every effort to give each other good and honest feedback. The comments I hear most often after a peer review session are: "They didn't give me anything specific to work on" and "I don't feel they were being completely honest with me about my writing" (or "I think they didn't want to hurt my feelings, so they didn't say anything bad").