SQR2

Yesenia Ontiveros

ENG 1301.28

Trang Phan

Sept. 13, 2010

SQR2: “Peer Response: Teaching Specific Revision Suggestions”

The question always is how we can teach others to provide efficient responses when it comes to revising a peer’s paper. This question was asked by a group of researchers trying to teach middle-school students to revise a peer paper. A well technique is PQP (Praise-Question-Polish). It was found that this technique is useful and it allows students to focus on the task of keeping a positive attitude toward the critique process. The praise part of the technique allows you to praise anything in his or her writing, such as I really like this sentence because it gives shape to the whole paragraph. The question, simply ask about the misunderstood of something. Least but not last is the polish, advice the writer on something that can make their writing better, such as add more details about the character. There are three types of comments, “vague,” “general but useful,” or “specific.” Before the PQP was used as a method “vague” comments were used most of the time. Vague comments are comments give every little detail or no detail at all, comments like this we should avoid. The “general but useful” is details that are still to general but give some way of revision. The most successful one is “specific” this type of comment provides the writer with specific direction of revision. Studies have showed that the percentage have continued to be relatively consistent for follow up response groups in the past activities drills.

Question

When it comes to a peer revising your paper, what do you like and dislike about it?

When it comes to a peer revising my paper I like for them to be honest about it. I do not mind of they tell me it is horrible, and I need to revise it and to do so much better. I strongly dislike it when they just tell me “It’s good” without a simple explanation of why it is good. I know at times as the reviser it’s hard to comment on someone’s paper simply because we do not want to hurt his or her feelings. But I see as in we are trying to help them become better writer. I personally like it when a peer writes comments on my paper telling me what I did wrong and what they think I should improve. Comments like those help me become a better and efficient writer. Like the article said there is three types of comments, I dislike comments like “I like your sentence” this shows me that my peer really did not take the time to acknowledge what I was trying to interpret. I personally enjoy helping others out when it comes to revising, and I enjoy when I get specific feedback.

Word cited page

McNelis, S., Neuburt, G. “Peer Response: Teaching Specific Revision Suggestions” The English Journal September 1990: pgs 52-56