Making Peer
Revision Work
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A Simple Guide on How to Make Peer Revision
Productive

Revision is much more than reading through a
paper quickly and scanning for punctuation
and spelling errors.
Peer Revision is Real
Work
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First, once you exchange your essay with a
peer, read through the entire essay without
making a mark or comment.
Get an overall sense of the essay.
How to Effectively
Conduct Peer Revision

Next, begin with the higher order concerns:
Introduction
Thesis
Paragraphs
Topic Sentences
Transitions
Argument
Organization
Support
Conclusion
How to Effectively
Conduct Peer Revision

It does not matter if you have every period and
comma in the correct place if your paper has
not proven anything.
Remember:
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Next, provide constructive feedback. Do not be
afraid to ask your peer buddy questions.
Remember, by asking questions, you are not
asserting that you are the expert; you are
merely looking for clarification.
If done well and with respect, peer revision can
benefit everyone involved.
How to Effectively
Conduct Peer Revision
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If you notice there seems to be no thesis, ask
your peer buddy, “In one sentence, tell me
what you are proving with your essay.”
This opens up dialogue so you can assert that
what he/she has or does not have could be
better stated.
If you are working from the paper or in
Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you may
simply pose the question: “What is your thesis?
Consider strengthening this area.”
Example of Feedback

Once you move from the thesis/ intro, look at
the essay critically. Ask yourself:
Does this make sense?
Does it follow logic?
Does it meet the assignment guidelines?
What is unclear to you, as the reader?
More Feedback
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Remember, all feedback does not have to be a
criticism. We ALL like to hear what we did
well.
If you believe your peer buddy makes an
interesting point or a sentence is beautifully
worded, tell him/ her.
By incorporating the positive with the
constructive feedback, peer revision does not
seem like a “beat the writer up” session.
Feedback

Once you have gone through the entire essay once
more and have addressed all of the higher order
concerns, you then move to the lower order
concerns:
Mechanics (the technical aspects of
writing such as proper word usage)
Punctuation
Grammar
Sentence Variety
Documentation
Style
Feedback

Many fear the editing, or lower order concerns,
because they assume they must be experts in
grammar and punctuation. Not so!
You Don’t Have to be an
Expert
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As you work through the paper yet again (this
should be round three), if you are not sure of
grammar and punctuation rules, rely on your
“gut feelings” to try to determine if something
“just doesn’t seem right.”
You should have some sort of handbook with
you (I suggest Harbrace) in order to look up
answers.
You might also pose the suggestion to your
peer buddy, “Check the punctuation in this
sentence.”
Editing

Once you have gone through the paper three
times, (once just to read, once for higher order
concerns, and once for lower order concerns)
you should supply your peer buddy with some
overall comments at the end of the essay.
Now What?

Susie: The paper was very interesting. I liked
your topic and the essay held my attention. You
might consider looking at your thesis to see if
you can make it stronger as it does not seem to
encompass all of what the essay discusses.
Also, check your transitions between
paragraphs. Finally, I marked a few places
where I felt the punctuation might need to be
fixed. Still, I thought you had some pretty
powerful sentences and examples. I hope this
helps.
Example
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There are several ways to carry out peer
revision effectively. One way, which has been
utilized throughout the initial part of this
presentation, is just to use a printed copy of the
essay while making comments and marks
using pen or pencil.
Ways to Execute Peer
Revision

Yet another arena within which to conduct peer
revision is within Microsoft Word using Track
Changes.
Another Way
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First, to begin Track Changes, in Word 2010
version, click the REVIEW tab along the top of
the document.
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Track Changes
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Then, click TRACK CHANGES along the top of
the document (This is usually located in the
middle portion of the toolbar).
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Once you have clicked TRACK CHANGES,
you may then begin to insert your comments,
questions, and suggestions into the essay.
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The next step is to either use the Track Changes
version as one in which to compare to your
draft or use the accept or reject changes tools
across the top in the tool bars section.
Reject or Accept

You can click on ACCEPT or REJECT, or you
may choose to go to the next suggestion change
by clicking the PREVIOUS or NEXT button in
order to move back and forth between
suggestions.
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You can also choose how your suggestions will
be viewed by clicking on SHOW MARKUP.
You will be given options in a drop down
menu.
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Many of us are used to receiving Track
Changes in the forms of bubbles along the right
margin of the essay. You can also engage in
peer revision and editing in this way.
A Familiar Sight
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Again, under the REVIEW tab, click on the
NEW COMMENT button.
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Place your cursor on the sentence or in the
place where you wish to insert a comment.
Then, click on NEW COMMENT along the
toolbar.
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Within the red bubble in the right margin, you
then type your question, suggestion, or
comment.
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For those who are more technologicallyinclined, you may use Google Docs.
Google Docs is a suite of products that lets you
create different kinds of online documents,
work on them in real time with other people,
and store your documents and your other files - all online, and all for free.
A Third Option
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Set up a Google Docs account. It must be a
gmail account. Don’t worry; it is free.
Sign in. Once in, you will come to this screen.
First
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On this screen, you will see to the left where
you can either upload a document. You may
also choose to cut and paste your document
into Google Docs. However, to upload, click the
upload button.

Here, you will upload a document from your
computer. Click OPEN.
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Once your document is uploaded, it will
appear in your list of uploaded documents.
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Once you are in the document, you can choose
to SHARE, or invite others into the document
with you. This is how you will work with your
peer buddy.
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This window allows you to see who has access
to the document. It also allows you to invite
others to enter the document with you. Please
note that you should send this invite to join
you to the person’s gmail account.
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This emailed invitation will include a link for
the document. The invited person merely needs
to click on it and sign in.
Changes can be seen as the group works on the
essay. Further, you can open a chat discussion
along the margins.
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Once in the Document, you will see a link along
the top with a note beneath the link:
Invite others by sharing this link.
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You and your peer buddy can work on the
document together from the comfort of your
own homes. The program allows you to see if
anyone else is “in” the document with you. It
also allows you to chat with them in a chat box
along the side of the document.
Using Google Docs
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Peer Editing and Revision can be a valuable
resource when those participating take it
seriously and work to provide the most
constructive feedback possible.
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Finally, if you or your peer buddy get stumped
by an issue within the essay, do not be afraid to
contact someone from the Writing Center.
Helping students is our job!