Generic Instructions for Peer Workshop

Get two people to follow the procedure below, on two separate copies of your essay draft. Complete participation credit depends on all of the instructions being followed.

Step 1: read the essay through and write in the margins as you go—ask questions, make comments, provide reactions, make suggestions. Be as specific as possible.

Step 2: write a letter to the writer on the end of the draft, addressing ALL of the following:

·         Discuss/critique the title. How well does it reflect the heart of the essay. Make suggestions.

·         What is the essay about? What purpose(s) does it achieve? What is the thesis/focus? How well does it develop the thesis/focus? Make suggestions as to how it could better achieve its purpose(s).

·         Discuss/critique the level of detail, content, development of the ideas. Where might the essay get more specific? Where does the essay stay on the general level?

·         Discuss/critique the organization from a reader’s point of view. Where could the organization be tightened? Discuss its flow.

·         Discuss/critique the intro and conclusion. What does each accomplish? How might each be improved, made more specific, hook the reader’s interest better?

·         Discuss/critique language—vivid word choice, sentence rhythms, sentence flow, images, descriptions, etc.

·         Any other observations or suggestions?

Step 3: sign your responses.