Peer Critiques and

Revision
Week 9

 Please take this time to

write about whatever you
would like or whatever
comes to mind.
If stuck, you may want to
write about how you feel
about the draft 1.1 or about
the course in general at this
mid-semester point.
Keep in mind that I will read
these, so please be polite
and professional.
When finished, please put
your free write on the table
in the front of the
classroom.

Free Write

 Today, October 26, is the

LAST day to drop a course.
There are only FIVE class
days left in the semester.
There are only SIX
assignments left:
Peer critiques
3 brief assignments
Draft 1.2
Writing Review
Remember that you are only
allowed Two absences in the
class.
Late assignments will hurt
your grade, but late is better
than never.
Please come speak to me if
you are failing the course or
are in danger of failing the
course. You need to speak
with me before I cant help
you.
If you care about your grade,
then I will care about your
grade.

Important
Semester
Information

 Show of hands of those who

went to open tutoring
sessions.
Show of hands of those who
went to Writing Center (inperson or online)?
Show of hands of those who
went to office hours.
Show of hands of those who
emailed instructor.

Questions
about Draft
1.1?

 You need to cite both

paraphrases and quotes.
Period goes after citation.
(McGray 351).

If you have stated the

authors name in the
sentence, then you do not
need to provide the authors
name in the citation.
(McGray 351)
(351)

Quick Review
and Lesson
about
Citations

 Peer Critique 1.1a and 1.1b

Objective:To demonstrate your ability to write a critique based on a
primary source (a peer's essay).
Purpose:Having others read your writing is a good way to find out if
your document is reaching its intended audience. In this assignment, you
will read the drafts of two of your peers and write a critique of each.
Description:To complete this assignment, use the guidelines from
Chapter 4b of The St. Martin's Handbook and compose a critique of your
peers drafts. For each critique, you will introduce the draft, summarize
its main points, assess and respond to the author's presentation, and
offer conclusions about the effectiveness of the analysis. Remember to
speak as specifically as possible about the draft, quoting from it when
necessary. Your critique will be 400 - 500 words in length.
The elements of the draft you should address include:
Text for Analysis/Thesis: Identify the writer's thesis and then evaluate
it for effectiveness. Determine whether the writer has selected a
particular text to analyze and whether or not the thesis indicates that the
writer will complete a rhetorical analysis of the text. Discuss whether the
thesis is specific enough and of appropriate scope for this analysis. For
example, a thesis that states that an author uses ethos, pathos, and
logos in their text is NOT specific enough for a rhetorical analysis. Explain
why or why not, and provide suggestions for the writer to help improve
the thesis, if necessary.
Quality and Specificity of Analysis: Evaluate the writers analysis.
Does the writer select specific quotations from the text to discuss? What
are these quotations, and what does the writer have to say about them?
Does the writer seem to effectively analyze, or does the draft read more
as a summary or paraphrasing of parts of the text being analyzed, or
does the writer end up arguing about the content, rather than the
structure and presentation of the text?
Overall Essay Structure: Comment on the overall structure of the
essay. For example, explain in detail whether or not the paragraphs are
presented in a logical and persuasive way. Does the writer provide a clear
introduction, body and conclusion? Does each paragraph begin with a
clear topic sentence and transition into the next paragraph? Provide
examples that are particularly effective or areas that need more
improvement.

Peer Critique
Assignment

 State the article/author the

student wrote a rhetorical
analysis for.
State the rhetorical choices
that the student analyzed
and whether he/she
believes the author was
effective/ineffective in
achieving his purpose.
Please make sure to provide
feedback/suggestions for
the following:
Audience/purpose
Thesis Statement
Examples provided for
rhetorical choices
Explanations of rhetorical
choices effectiveness
Quote integration

Instructions
Simplified

critiques.
Please comment on both
what the student does well
and what the student
needs to improve.
(strengths and weaknesses)
Please provide suggestions
for how the student can
correct an error.
You can, and are asked, to
quote from the students
paper. Remember to do so
sparingly.
Remember that a real
student is receiving and
reading your peer critique.
Please provide constructive
criticism.

A Few Things
to Keep in
Mind When
Peer Critiquing

Any questions?

 Dont do revisions.

The Only
Dont of
Revision

 Do revise!
Focus on making macro
changes first.
After making the necessary
macro changes, focus on
making any micro changes.
Once you have revised your
paper, read through it
thoroughly one final time to
check for any lingering
revisions that still need to
be made.

Dos of
Revision

 Add
Remove
Move
Substitute

ARMS

 Please take out the printed copy of your draft

1.1 that you brought to class. Please also
take out a separate sheet of paper.
First, underline your identified audience,
identified purpose, and thesis statement.
Next, underline your examples and your
analysis of each rhetorical choice.
On your separate sheet of paper answer
the following questions:
Is your audience/purpose specific?
Is your thesis statement formatted correctly?
Contain all the necessary components?
Are your examples correct? Are they the best
and most persuasive examples?
Did you clearly and thoroughly explain how
the choices help (or do not help) the author to
inform/persuade the audience?
Are you quotes integrated correctly and
effectively?

Writing
Activity

 Using the writing activity

that you just completed and
your graders commentary
(peer critiques if possible),
please bring the following to
class next week:
A paragraph in which you
explain the strengths of
your draft 1.1.
A paragraph in which you
explain the weaknesses of
your draft 1.1.

Informal
Homework

 Please read the following by

November 2:
Chapter 10, pages 211-224, in
First-Year Writing
Chapter 4f and 4h, pages 80-82,
in the St. Martins Handbook
Chapter 5g, pages 112-117, in the
St. Martins Handbook

Bring a paragraph about the

strengths and a paragraph
about the weaknesses of
your draft 1.1 to class on
November 2.
Turn in your TWO peer
critiques (400-500 words
each) by October 30 on
Raider Writer by 11:59:59
p.m.
Turn your clock back ONE
hour on Sunday,
November 1.

Before you
leave