Peer Revision Peer Revision Kentlake Writing SeminarFall 2008

1Kentlake Writing Seminar

What is Peer Revision? What is Peer Revision?

You aren’t out to pass judgment.

Aware of strong & weak points.

Make impartial observations.

2Kentlake Writing Seminar

Your Work as a Peer Your Work as a Peer Reviser Reviser

Determine the purpose of paper.

Determine the sequence of ideas.

Determine the accuracy of facts.

3Kentlake Writing Seminar

A Few Sample QuestionsA Few Sample Questions

Is the arguments convincing?

Can parts be cut?

Comments on the conclusion?

Does writing support the

thesis?

4Kentlake Writing Seminar

Before You BeginBefore You Begin

Get a pen/pencil paper.

Short comments in the margin.

Longer on another piece of paper.

You need minimum of 30 minutes.

5Kentlake Writing Seminar

Peer Writing GroupsPeer Writing Groups

Improve by critiquing others.

Not be afraid to make mistakes.

Groups share concerns.

6Kentlake Writing Seminar

A Strategy for Peer A Strategy for Peer RevisionRevision

7Kentlake Writing Seminar

OverviewOverview

Skim through the paper.

Main idea of the paper.

Summarize each paragraph.

Write down the conclusion.

Compare main idea to conclusion.

8Kentlake Writing Seminar

CRISPCRISPDone, before the final edit

Cut words

Reduce clauses

Intensify verbs

Sharpen diction

Pack phrases

9Kentlake Writing Seminar

When to do thisWhen to do this

If your paper, do it all

If another’s paper do one

body

Do not do more for others

Burn out is a possibility10Kentlake Writing Seminar

Cut wordsCut words

Cut out unnecessary words.

That gets "due to the fact

that" and "in order to" and all

other wordy constructions

that don't say anything.

11Kentlake Writing Seminar

Reduce ClausesReduce ClausesMany clauses can be

reduced to phrases.

Or eliminated.

12Kentlake Writing Seminar

Intensify verbsIntensify verbsCircle verbs

Intensify the weak ones.

13Kentlake Writing Seminar

Sharpen DictionSharpen Diction

Find the very BEST words

Think of the audience

Think of the purpose.

14Kentlake Writing Seminar

Pack PhrasesPack PhrasesMove them behind the nouns.

Passive "A proposal presented

by Derek Bok, the president of

Harvard, was defeated.“

Active "Harvard president Derek

Bok's proposal failed."

15Kentlake Writing Seminar

ThesisThesis

Does it express a specific idea?

Right scope for a paper?

Is it clear?

If not, what would help? 16Kentlake Writing Seminar

DevelopmentDevelopment

Goes beyond class discussion?

Have adequate support?

Does the author use quotes?

Do the quotes really help? 17Kentlake Writing Seminar

StyleStyle

Words should be clear.

Ideas expressed in active voice.

Are some words used too much?

The conclusion restates the thesis.

18Kentlake Writing Seminar

Questions?Questions? HUNTER COLLEGE READING/WRITING CENTER THE WRITING PROCESS

19Kentlake Writing Seminar