Reviewing Peers' Work
As peer review can be very effective, I also find it confusing. As none of us are perfect or "professional" writers, each of us students have different writing styles, and different perspectives of a "well written piece". If this wasn't true, if we all had the same "correct" view, we probably wouldn't be in a writing class...
I sometimes feel that I am being too critical, or trying to change a student's piece into one that I myself would compose. Again, this is obviously because I am most comfortable with my writing styles...and that is why I use them.
It is also never clear if I'm being to offensive, or trying to give too much advise. I for one, have experienced confusion and insecurity about my writing before. It is hard to take in other students' advice when you thought you just wrote an amazing piece. It is never fun to be extremely proud of your writing and then hear or read a critical review analyzing every sentence, telling you why your writing sounds horrible. Peer review overall is a difficult process which I feel should be moderated in al aspects.
I sometimes feel that I am being too critical, or trying to change a student's piece into one that I myself would compose. Again, this is obviously because I am most comfortable with my writing styles...and that is why I use them.
It is also never clear if I'm being to offensive, or trying to give too much advise. I for one, have experienced confusion and insecurity about my writing before. It is hard to take in other students' advice when you thought you just wrote an amazing piece. It is never fun to be extremely proud of your writing and then hear or read a critical review analyzing every sentence, telling you why your writing sounds horrible. Peer review overall is a difficult process which I feel should be moderated in al aspects.
posted by Keren Friedman at
1:08 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks for the constructive feedback, and I agree, peer-review can be daunting. What I would suggest is to let go of any official expectations when you read other students' writing (or ask that they do the same with yours). Instead, try to respond as a reader in the moment. If your confused, say this, and then explain why. Maybe don't give a concrete recommendation, but make sure the writer knows that what they intended to do isn't coming across as it should.
Another way to get at this point: don't think of yourself as evaluating another student's writing; ultimately, that's my job. Your job is to respond, and instead of prescribing what they should do, ask questions. Help them figure out what it is they want to accomplish. Your responses in this way will help them and you won't come off as being offensive or dictating your idea of good paper to them.
Please let me know if we should talk more about this, as I want these exercises to be as useful as possible.
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