Peer Editing Assignment for Essay 2’s Rough Draft

STEP 1: Submit Essay 2’s Rough Draft here by Thursday 3/10 by 11:59pm.

• Submit Essay 2’s 750-ish-word Rough Draft to this assignment by Th. by 11:59pm. Upload as a .pdf, .doc or .docx. so that everyone can read your essay and so that you’re prepared for turning in the graded version in one of these formats (you can just convert to one of these formats if you’re using Google Docs).
• If you turn this rough draft in even a second late, you will not receive your peers’ essays, so you will not receive credit for this assignment, but even worse, you won’t get your peers’ feedback.
• Do not submit this rough draft unless you can commit yourself to peer-editing two classmates’ essays. You’ll leave two peers w/o input if you do this (and you’ll receive a zero).

Step 2: Peer-Edit by 3/13

• Canvas will assign you two essays to review by Fri., but your two critiques are not due until Sun., so it’s not a rush to help your peers with their essays.
• By Sun. before 11:59pm, submit two peer-reviews (one for each of the two student essays you’re assigned) using the guidelines in the above video and guidelines. Each peer response will either be annotations (mark-ups on essay) OR be a 250-word paragraph. You can submit the peer responses to the students’ feedback/comment box, or you can submit it as a .pdf or .doc/x attachment to each student. As long as it’s somewhere for your peers to read, I’m happy.
• Each peer-editing critique is worth ten points.
• There’s a grading rubric with the specific requirements at the end of this assignment.

Peer Editing Instructions:

You’ll want to revisit Essay 2’s prompt and requirements first so that they’re fresh in your memory.

There are two ways you may peer-edit. After reading two of your peers’ essays, re-read their essays and either write two 250-ish word paragraphs (one to each peer) with helpful comments OR provide annotations to each classmate (which means to mark-up their essays using Canvas’ toolbar above the essay (you can use the speech box or whatever you’re comfortable with). Again, follow the guidelines in the above video AND below I give more specific instructions within the video’s guidelines:

1. First, greet the writer by name. If you’re writing them a 250-word paragraph, just start with the greeting. If instead you’re annotating (marking up the essay), you can also start with a speech balloon that greets the writer. 

2. Second, make specific suggestions regarding the writer’s. . .

• Thesis and 2-4 point parallel preview (this should ideally be one sentence at the end of paragraph 1). Does the thesis and preview fulfill the assignment’s prompt and requirements?
• Topic Sentences: In the body paragraphs (2 3, etc.), do the the writers have topic sentences that not only introduce the topic but also allude to the thesis? If not, help them.
• Support: Compliment the writer’s support. What are a few specific examples, stories, or details that you really liked? Were there any that fell short or need more explanation? Were there enough examples and stories with concrete detail, dialog, senses (smell, taste, feel, sound, look], similes/metaphors)? Are there any specific details you can suggest they add?
• Word Choice: Is there slang, too many simple words, too many obtuse words?). Can you recommend any specific words to replace others?
• Organization: How did they organize their essay? Does it work well or could you suggest a different organization? Do they use transitions between examples and between supporting paragraphs? Are there areas they could use more?
• Sentences: Do they vary their sentence lengths. In other words, do they have sentence variety? You don’t want every sentence to have the boring order: subject, verb, object; occasionally start a sentence with an adverb or a prepositional phrase (Laboriously. . .); occasionally start a sentence with a past participle (Eaten. . .) or an "ing" (Walking. . . ); occasionally start a sentence with the object of the sentence first (like Yoda). . .; occasionally start a sentence with . subordinating conjunction (Because, If, When, etc.), and so on. You’re welcome to make comments and corrections on the essay if you’d like to, but it’s not required; instead, write a paragraph to two peers about their strengths and weaknesses and only if needed, point out some common errors like run-ons, fragments, subject/verb agreement etc. if grammar is a problem. with corrections.

3. Third, if there are a lot of clarity issues, identify a few typos or errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax (this means word placement). You don’t have to fix their whole essay. Just let them know if you found any run-ons, fragments, etc.
4. Fourth, be kind and yet honest in the way you articulate your suggestions. When there’s no verbal tone of voice, feelings can get hurt easier.

5. Fifth, for each peer editing you miss or do a half-ass job on, you’ll lose ten points. Because this is our first peer-edit, it won’t be as fulfilling to everyone as later peer-reviews will be. Once I start handing back formal essays with critiques, everyone will see the kinds of comments they too can make on student essays.

6. Lastly, at the end, be sure to type your name. Perhaps a "Sincerely, John Doe."

7. Note that Peer-Reviews are not visible from the Canvas app

Due Dates and Summary:

• Submit Essay 2’s Rough Draft here by Th. by 11:59pm. Upload as a .pdf, .doc or .docx. so that everyone can read your essay and so that you’re prepared for turning in the graded version in one of these formats.
• Again, if you turn this in even a second late, you will not receive your peers’ essays, so you will not receive credit for this assignment, but even worse, you won’t get your peers’ feedback.
• Do not submit this rough draft unless you can commit yourself to peer-editing two classmates’ essays. You’ll leave two peers w/o input if you do this (and you’ll receive a zero).
• Canvas will assign you two essays to review by 6am Fri. I don’t expect you to work on it at this crazy hour though.
• By Sun. before 11:59pm, submit two peer-reviews (one for each of the two student essays you’re assigned) using the guidelines in the above video and guidelines. Each peer response will either be annotations (mark-ups on essay) OR be a 250-word paragraph. You can submit the peer responses to the students’ feedback/comment box, or you can submit it as a .pdf or .doc/x attachment to each student.. As long as it’s somewhere for your peers to read, I’m happy.
• Each peer-editing is worth ten points.
• You’ll then revise based on your peers’ input and submit the essay by the next due date for a grade between 0-100 points.