Description:
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE PEER REVIEW
FOR USE IN THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS IN UNITS 3 AND 4.
The Purpose of This Exercise:
Peer review is a method for helping you improve your writing. The objectivity that comes from another point of view can add the clarity you need to edit and refine your own work. Remember, all work is in draft form. It can be revised and strengthened, and this is an important element of the self-reflection process. You will incorporate the feedback you receive in the draft of your project. In addition, there is evidence that the process of providing feedback to peers strengthens your ability to revise your own writing.
Guidelines for Effective Peer Review
When you provide feedback, address the following:
• First, identify the strengths of the work in relation to the purpose of the assignment. Briefly explain why you see them as strengths. Stick to the most important ideas presented and do not attempt to comment on everything.
• Then identify the one aspect of the learner’s approach or ideas that you think could make the biggest positive difference if it were changed. The change might be clarification, expansion, or some other improvement. Briefly explain why you think that aspect needs attention and suggest at least one way that the learner might accomplish that.
As you respond to each of the items above, avoid focusing your comments on issues of grammar or copy editing (although if the work needs improvement in these areas, you can mention it). The bulk of your feedback should focus on how well the learner’s annotated outline appears to address the assignment objectives. Your peer review should be approximately the equivalent of one page, double-spaced, in Times New Roman, 12 point.
To make it easy for everyone to find their feedback, list the name of the learner for whom you are providing feedback in the subject area of your post.
After providing feedback, check back in that area of the discussion over the next couple of days to respond to any further questions the learner may have about your feedback.
Receiving Feedback:
When receiving feedback from other learners, be sure to:
• Thank them.
• Ask any follow-up questions you might have about their comments.
• Let them know the feedback that you feel will be the most helpful to you in improving your project.
Peer Review – Annotated Outline
The purpose of this discussion is to provide, and receive, peer feedback on the Unit 3 assignment, Annotated Outline.
In the discussion in Unit 3, you posted your Annotated Outline, along with a brief description of your project direction. This discussion is the next step: providing peer reviews for two of your peers. Post your peer reviews here, with a subject line that indicates the name of the person whose outline you are reviewing, so that each of you can easily find the reviews of your outline. Here are the steps to follow to complete this peer review discussion:
Response Guidelines:
• Read the posts of your peers in the Unit 3 discussion, select two to review, and download copies of those Annotated Outlines. Check for posts from the discussion to determine whether anyone is already reviewing those learners’ outlines. Try to find peers whose outlines do not already have reviewers.
• Read the Guidelines for Effective Peer Review provided in the Resources.
• Provide feedback to two of your peers. Include the author’s name in the subject line.
• Review the feedback that you receive from your peers and use the feedback as you see fit as in developing your project draft, due at the end of Unit 4.
Complete your responses to peers by the end of the day on Wednesday of this week, so that they, and you, have time to incorporate the feedback into your assignment draft in this unit.
Check the discussion threads over the next couple of days and respond to any follow-up questions your peers have about the feedback you gave them.