Peer Review - Writers Workshop

WRITERS WORKSHOP

Directions: You have 50 minutes today to look at your group's papers.

Think of yourselves as a team of writing doctors, and each of you have a field of specialty. Each team will have a specialist in the following areas: content, focus, organization, and style/MLA format. When you go to the doctor, s/he normally asks you a series of questions in order to diagnose your illness and then prescribes you a medication. As you work through your section questions, if you notice something that isn't working properly in the paper, try to provide a "diagnosis." Then work together as a group to discuss possible "remedies."

Focus on the big stuff first. Watch your time so that you have enough time to discuss the papers as a team.

At the end of most doctor appointments, s/he says "take these pills and come back." At the end of the writer's workshop today, set goals for yourself and discuss what each group member needs to accomplish as they continue to revise.

FOCUS

What's the point of the paper?

Is this clear from the outset of the paper?

Do all the paragraphs connect back to the point of the paper?

Are there parts of the paper that seem unnecessary or that are tangential from the main point?

Does the conclusion return to the point of the paper and demonstrate development of the thesis since the beginning of the paper?

CONTENT

Does the amount of research and/or examples from the primary text seem sufficient?

Are there more things that you'd like to know? Areas that weren't explored?

Does any research seem questionable or not credible?

Does there seem to be a balance of paraphrases, quotations, and long quotations?

Do quotations seem to dominate the paper?

Are there places where a paraphrase should have been used instead of a direct quotation?

Are quotations introduced well?

Are they followed with an explanation or a connection to the point being made?

ORGANIZATION

Does each paragraph start with a topic sentence?

Are there transitions at the beginning and ends of paragraphs so that ideas "flow"—that is, connections are made to transition from one point to the next?

Does each paragraph focus on just one thing?

Within each paragraph, is the presentation of the information in a logical order?

Does the order of the paragraphs seem to make sense (especially in relation to the development of the point)?

Are there ways that the organization of the paper could be changed to make the paper stronger?

STYLE

Does the language seem appropriate? Are there places where it seems too casual or conversational? Are there spots that seem unlike the author's voice? That is, are there places where the author has taken the tone of another author which doesn't seem appropriate?

Are the sentences varied? Does anything seem repetitive? Is it creative?

Is the introduction interesting yet not cheesy? Does it seem sophisticated and academic?

Is the writing memorable and sophisticated? (If not, point to places that could be improved)

MLA FORMAT

Check internal parenthetical citations—are all the periods and quotation marks in the right places? Are block quotes formatted properly?

Is the heading in the upper left corner on the first page with name, course, teacher's name, and date? Is there a creative title centered?

Is there a last name and page number in the upper right hand corner of all other pages?

Works cited page—double check everything with the MLA Style Guide.

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