HANDOUT 5

PEER-EDITING

GUIDELINES FOR WRITERS

1. Your draft should be ready (complete with introduction, body, conclusion).

2. Point out improvements you wish to make over your previous papers (e.g. comments
desired on transition, on better incorporation of textual evidence etc).
3. Make no statements that may prejudice your peer-editor either for or against your
paper.
4. Questions directed to the peer-editor
 What does my writing convey to you?
 Do you react to it positively or negatively?
 How do I handle the parts that form the whole of my argument?
 Are the transitions from one part to the other smooth?
 Is my textual evidence persuasive and well integrated in my argument?
 What are the strongest and weakest features of my argument?
 Feel free to point out mechanical errors/
 Were you surprised, entertained, irritated, bored at any point?
 Do you agree with my point of view or not? Do you have any other questions
or suggestions for me?

GUIDELINES FOR PEER-EDITORS

1. Refrain from comments till you have read through the whole paper.
2. Make jottings on your copy so that you can easily remember what to say to the writer.
3. Your opinion/criticism should move from the positive to the negative. Your focus all
through must be on general improvement. Put in your best (to help) for you would
expect the same from others.
4. Your comments should be specific and move from broad issues (thesis, organization,
evidence, unity, logic) to small structural issues (paragraph, sentence, grammar,
spelling).
5. Make specific comments – say exactly what, where and why the essay does work and
where it does not.
6. Ask for the writers response to your comments – which comments were most helpful
and which not?
 HANDOUT 6

PEER-EDITING REPSONSE SHEET

Writer’s Name:

Editor’s Name:

This is an extra sheet provided for your critical comments. You will also have a copy of the
essay to jot down your comments on it. Comments on grammar and spelling should be made on
the margin of the paper. Any changes in sentence structure (only in case it obscures meaning)
should also be made there.

1. Explain the thesis of the paper in your own words. How does it come across to you –
argumentative, clear, and strong? This is a crosscheck between you and the writer – how
well have you understood the thesis obviously explains how well the writer has been able
to convey his/her thoughts clearly.

2. Is there enough evidence in the essay to prove the writer’s point of view? How well does
the writer analyze the evidence that he/she has incorporated into his/her thesis?
3. Comment on the organization of the argument. Do the paragraphs/sections have a topic
sentence that is substantiated by evidence and analysis? Are these sections laid out in a
clear logical manner that work up to a valid conclusion?

4. Comment on the style of writing. Is it in clear, lucid prose with the paragraph transitions
working smoothly?

5. What about the mechanics of the formatting?

6. What in your opinion are the strengths and weaknesses of the essay?

7. Do you agree with the thesis of the paper? Did you learn anything from the essay that you
did not know before?