Who to pick? Scroll and select a peer who does not have any reviews. If everyone you see has reviews, select the student who has received the fewest. Our goal is to help as many people as we can!

Learning Goal: I’m working on a writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

FIRST

Write the rough draft.

COPY & PASTE the rough draft in this discussion board publicly by Thursday. Do NOT attach a file. Feel free to add some areas at the top you’d like commenters to focus on! Don’t worry about formatting too much (unless you want feedback on formatting or citations, which is fine). Be sure your draft is posted by the due date in order to get credit for it.

SECOND

Comment on two of your peers, helping them improve. Since all rough drafts will be due on Thursday at 11:59 pm, and all final drafts will be due by Sunday at 11:59 pm, you will need to comment on each other’s work by Saturday (the sooner the better so students can make any necessary changes). Therefore, you will have up to 2 days between submitting your work and commenting on 2 of your peers.

COMMENTING ON PEER WORK

1.. Who to pick?
Scroll and select a peer who does not have any reviews. If everyone you see has reviews, select the student who has received the fewest. Our goal is to help as many people as we can!

You’ll note it’s important to submit your draft as early as possible, because your peers will see those submissions first. The sooner you submit, the more help you’ll get.

2. How should I comment to really give help to my peers?
DO NOT focus on grammar, spelling, and other lower-order concerns. Each writer has access to the Writing Center, tools like Grammarly, friends, me, and grammar/spell checkers.

Instead, focus on the PROMPT/REQUIREMENTS. In fact, it would be a great idea to have this open as you are commenting.

Give your peer somewhere between 3-8 comments on issues that would most help them earn a higher grade – not necessarily on elements that you believe are “good writing.” Also, don’t be afraid to include some compliments. However, make sure comments are helpful. A few examples of unhelpful comments that can be more helpful:

– Unhelpful: This sentence is a run-on. Helpful: This sentence confuses me. Is it a topic sentence or is it analysis? If you think it is analyzing, move it down to after your quote, so that your reader knows what it refers to.

– Unhelpful: Write a stronger thesis statement. Helpful: Your thesis is not making a claim. What are the main points of your essay, and how can you help your reader know what you will focus on?

– Unhelpful: This paragraph is a little long. Try to shorten it. Helpful: The prompt says paragraphs should have a topic sentence, a lead-in, evidence, and analysis. It seems like sentences 3 through 5 are not leading in to the quote enough. Can you move them to the analysis portion?

Notice that helpful comments point to something on the prompt and then ask the writer to consider something new. Questions that have an easy yes/no answer won’t work, but questions that make the writer re-consider the purpose of their work can truly be game-changing. Be honest about which parts you feel are not meeting the prompt, and give your peers feedback about those elements.

FINALLY

If you have any questions about the process, please ask. The goal is for each of you to feel a little more confident about your final draft, and in reading each other’s work you can see what other students are doing well. Also, USE THE RESOURCES ON THE PROMPT. Especially for formatting, you’re really not going to find a better place to start.

PLEASE USE THESE QUESTIONS

Peer Editing

Ethical Issue

Writer:_______________ Peer Editor:_______________

Please consider the following points as you read the rough draft; check off and write COMMENTS for EACH editing point below to improve the assignment (please read ALL). Thank you for your careful consideration of your classmate’s writing.

_____ Title: Is the title appropriate, telling/informative, or needs improvement? Why/How?

_____ Thesis statement: Is the thesis statement/purpose clear from the outset?

______Introduction: Does the introduction create interest? Sets the scene? How?

______ Specific details to support position: Cite two to three specific details the writer uses to support their claims about the ethical issue. Is the evidence sufficient?

_____ Logical organization: Easy flow of ideas from one point to the next? Paragraphs arranged in a logical manor? Transitions from point to point?

_____ Who is the intended audience/target demographic? Suggest a publication/website/app, in/on which this would likely be published. Is the language/vocabulary suited for the intended audience?

_____ Are there any issues with spelling, punctuation, grammar?

_____ Conclusion: Does the writer summarize the main points of emphasis relating back to the thesis statement? Is there a clear call to action?

______ Are images/modes employed to enhance the piece? If not, please make suggestions.

______ Are the requirements met in terms of page limit and sources?

______What improvements can you suggest, especially to add to increase reader interest?

1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news angle and would interest readers.
2. Collect information and facts; include objective reporting; do research
3. State your opinion briefly in the fashion of a thesis statement
4. Explain the issue objectively as a reporter would and tell why this situation is important
5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and facts
6. Refute (reject) the other side and develop your case using facts, details, figures, quotations. Pick apart the other side’s logic.
7. Concede a point of the opposition — they may have some good points you can acknowledge that would make you look rational.
8. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem that goes beyond common knowledge. Encourage critical thinking and pro-active reaction.
9. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates your opening remark (thesis statement).
10. Keep it to 2 pages, not including visuals.