Really Responding to Other Students Reading Response

           This article focuses on teaching students how to properly peer review their classmates’ papers. The author first explained that it takes time and effort to revise a paper. They compare it to being a nice roommate helping a friend, but not limiting yourself to only that quality. To properly critique, you must be willing to tell the person more than just what they want to hear. Sometimes this requires you to point out areas that they may need improvement in. It then states that it is best to give samples on how to improve their writing. Do not tell them what to write, just guide them along the way. You also need to edit the paper according to which draft it is. If it is the first draft, do not focus as much on grammar and punctuation, but more on the focus and purpose of the paper. It explains to place comments on the margin of the paper, but be sure to be clear about what you are addressing. I also states not to sound like a teacher or a critic. You should sound as you normally would when talking with a friend. Try to be supportive and helpful in your comments. It would be best to write your comments out in full statements. The writer needs to know why you feel the way you do, and what needs to be improved. This is hard to understand when you give comments with only two or three words. You should always be willing to praise the writer, but also to point out weak places in their writing. Tell the writer what you like and do not like, tell them what works and what does not. Also consider who the writer is when commenting. If the writer is shy and timid, encourage them to let down walls in their writing and expand themselves. The article then shows an example of a student Jeremy, revising a paper written my Todd. Jeremy’s comments are solid. They are thoughtful, respectful, and he takes the writer seriously. He helped Todd see what he can work on and how he can improve his choices as a writer.

                I do not believe the author is trying to argue as much as he is trying to inform. The author is taking revision step by step and answering every question you may have about responding to other student’s writing. With this being said, I believe the author approached this topic in a successful way. They provided a clear understanding of how to start, how much to put, where to write, and how to critique or praise. A student who is uncertain of how to approach a paper they have been asked to review may read this article and know exactly how to view the writing as a whole.

                I personally believe this article is one I found to be very helpful. I know for this course we will be required to peer edit many of each others writings. I have never fully gotten the chance to edit someone’s paper, so I definitely needed some guidance on how to approach this task. After reading this article I feel like I know how to get started and what to say when it comes to helping someone with their writing skills. Altogether, I believe the author did a great job explaining this process and making it easy to understand, leaving no question unanswered.  

                The golden line I chose from this article was “You’re not the writer; you are a reader. One of many. This paper is not yours; it’s the writers. She writes. You read”. I think this statement is very important when it comes to responding to other students. One must realize that they cannot write the paper for this person, and that they are not ultimately who is in charge of the writing. You are there to tell the writer what you get from the paper, or why you were confused. You are there to help encourage instead of taking control and changing it yourself.