Home Teaching Guides Using Student Peer Review Model Effective Commenting

Introduction

Planning for Peer Review Sessions

Think about logistics

Specify tasks for the peer review

Model how to use the workshop sheet or criteria list before peer review

Consider sequencing the peer-review tasks in multiple workshops

Provide adequate time for students to conduct thorough peer review of drafts

Helping Students Make Effective Comments

Model effective commenting

Build in incentives for helpful comments

Helping Students Handle Divergent Advice

Resource: Sample workshop sheets

Argument Assignment

Argument Portfolio

Intermediate Composition

Intermediate Composition

Introductory Composition

Additional Resources

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Authors & Contributors

Model Effective Commenting

Back to Helping Students Make Effective Comments

As you model how to give effective commentary in peer review, remind students of the following points:

• Always point out strengths as well as elements that need more work.
• Try to attend to larger issues first (audience, purpose, organization, detail, etc.). Talk about sentences, word choices, punctuation only late in the peer-review process.
• Be specific. Point to particular places in the paper where revision will be helpful.
• Don't hesitate to respond as a reader, especially early in the review process, for example,
  • I got confused here.
  • I saw your point clearly here.
  • I was convinced by your example or analogy or argument.
• If you disagree with the comments of another peer reviewer, say so. Not all readers react the same ways, and divergent points of view can help writers see options for revising.
• Make comments in spirit of helpfulness. Take comments in spirit of helpfulness.