SQR2

Summary

Peers Response: Teaching Specific Revision Suggestions

This composition Explains the ways of how peers comment one another when revising each others writings. It explains to you how the PQP technique works and how they categorized the level on how specific the comment was. Also, it shows you examples of the activities they used to help the students give better answers when they're revising other peer's papers.

PQP stands for Praise-Question-Polish. The student will comment on what they liked about the writing, this is the "Praise" part. Next, they will question what they didn't understand in the composition. Followed by polishing, by giving the writer suggestions on what they should change or improve in their writing.

It also explains the manner in which they categorized the level on how specific the comment was. Vague is the lowest specific level, being the useless level. General but useful is the mid level, which is not very specific but useful enough to direct the writer on what to revise. Specific is the highest level because it specifically directs the writer in detail what to improve or change.

Most students were giving mid level comments, some gave specific comments, and a very small amount of students gave vague comments. So, to improve the level of specific comments they had some activities with the whole class, then in small groups, and last individually. The activities were to be given a group of comments and to answer how specific each of the comments were, and if they were useful or useless. After these activities the percentage of specific comments from the students increased, while the mid level comments decreased and the vague comments didn't change. Later on, after a quick drill more than half the students gave specific comments, and the mid level and vague comments decreased more.

Question

Neubert and McNelis categorized student's comments into 3 types: Vague, General but Useful, and Specific. What are the characteristics of each type of comments? Why is it important for comments to be specific?

Response

The comment category is orginaized from least to most specific. Vague is the least specific level in the category. This is because a vague comment won't direct you much on your revising. General but useful is the next level, this comment gives the writer a direction towards what to revise. While, Specific is the most specific level. Specific tells the writer exactly what to revise.

It is important for the comment to be as specific as possible. It helps the write learn what to improve in their writing skill, as well as improving the revising skills of the peers.