07 September 2012

Commenting Steps 1-3

Step 1: Compliments
Always start your peer editing with compliments!
Tell the writer what he or she did well:

  • I think you used a lot of good details, such as _______
  • I liked when you used the word ______ because _______
  • My favorite part was ________ because…
  • This was really fun to read because…
  • I liked the way you_________…

Step 2: Suggestions
Making suggestions means giving the author some specific ideas about how to make his or her writing better.
Remember – stay positive and be specific!

  • Instead of, “It doesn’t make sense,” say, “If you add more details after this sentence, it will be more clear. For instance, _______.”
  • Instead of, “Your word choice is boring,” say, “Instead of using the word good, maybe you can use the word exceptional.”

Here are some areas that you may want to make suggestions about:
  • Word choice – Did the author choose interesting words?
  • Using details – Descriptive language, well-chosen quotes
  • Organization – Can you understand what the author is trying to say? Is it in the correct sequence?
  • Sentences – Are the sentences too long or too short?
  • Topic – Does the author stick to the topic or talk about other things that don’t really fit?

Step 3: Corrections
The third step in the peer editing process is making corrections.
Corrections means checking your peer’s paper for:

  • Spelling mistakes
  • Grammar mistakes
  • Missing punctuation
  • Incomplete or run-on sentences

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