1. Peer Review: “Learning Autobiography”
Keena P. Day, M.A.

2. Classroom Norms
Silence all cell phones and other technological devices.
Do not hesitate to tell me to slow down or to ask questions.
Keep side conversations to a minimum.
Active participation is encouraged.

3. Warm-up: “1st Draft”
Write down several questions you have about the essay you have written regarding any major concerns you have. Write down any specific areas from your essay that you would like your peer review group to focus on as they read.

4. Peer Review Directions:
Carefully read the draft twice or listen to it read orally once and read it as written once.
Respond to the essay either by writing directly on it or you can write all responses on the sheet provided.
Respond to the writer’s main concerns first, and then respond to the essay as a whole after completing the sheet.

5. Peer Review: Oral Conversation
Be specific. In addition to saying what you think, say why you think it.
Be encouraging and honest. Providing only praise does not help, yet commenting only on the negative can be discouraging.

6. Peer Review: Oral Conversation
Do not defend your essay; view it as a work in progress.
Listen carefully, ask questions only to clarify what the review means.
Take notes on all verbal comments for later reference.
Thank the reader! Then, take what he/she said, decide what you can do to improve.

7. Practice Essay Writer: Prof. Day Essay: “Death Defying”
Complete the sheet while listening to the essay. A copy will be provided for you to complete a second read.

8. GROUPING

9. Editing
You will complete the revised and edited versions simultaneously.
You will take all peer group comments and begin to revise your essay. Any paragraphs that should be moved, details that should be added, please do so first. THEN go back and use the Rhetorical Handbook (Chapter 15) to complete an edit of your essay.

10. Editing/Revision Areas of Focus
Title your essay!
Closing paragraphs
Complete sentences
Expletives
Formality
Introductions
Opening Paragraphs
Paragraphs
Parallelism
Sentence Vitality
Verb Tense Agreement
Word Choice
Writing Style

11. Next Class: Independent Work
Assignment Sheet