Peer Editing the My Turn Essay

To the Editor(s): Please write your name in the table. Please consider what kind of feedback you would like to receive and try to offer the same quality of feedback to your classmates. Follow the steps carefully, providing attention to detail to help the writer. Don’t limit yourself to this box: feel free to write in the body of the essay! Read the work slowly, putting checks by the more effective parts of it and putting question marks by the parts that are unclear to you. Circle any spelling or capitalization errors, and note any other mechanical problems by underlining or circling.

COMPLIMENTS:	Editor Name
General Reaction -- Read your classmate's piece quickly to understand its ideas. Write a few sentences addressing your first impressions about it. This should be an essay that is personal in nature. Is it INTERESTING? Why or why not? This is the most important feedback you can offer the writer. Is it well organized? Has it fulfilled the assignment of focusing on a personal experience or observation? Other impressions?
INTRODUCTION: Does the introduction immediately capture your attention and interest? What is the main point/thesis? How can this be made more effective? What could be added or removed to make it clearer?
Comment on the author’s use of: sensory imagery, vivid language, specific personal examples, description You should enjoy the piece because of specific details the author provided. The piece should provide PERSONAL details that are specific to this person. If the piece feels vague and generic, let the writer know.	In the body of the paper, ask questions that are SPECIFIC to the author so they can revise for these.
One common mistake writers make is to be REDUNDANT. Read carefully and look for sentences that repeat themselves. Each sentence should be specific and VIBRANT. Each should add to a greater understanding of the experience or observation. Which parts of the paper detract from the purpose? What is unnecessary?	In the body of the essay, scratch out repetitions. If the author makes you feel like you are reading because he/she uses phrases like “I feel like,” “I think that,” etc. circle or cross these out. Look carefully at the way the writer has put forth their ideas. Suggest sentence combining to cut down on redundancy and to form SPECIFIC sentences.
Suggestions: Offer the writer at least two specific suggestions that might help him or her to improve the essay. Think of questions you had while reading: did it make sense? Were you able to follow along? What would you like to know? What would you like to see? These may be questions that your classmate will want to answer in the next draft.	1 2