Peer Editing

Writing assignments will be followed by a peer-editing session, during which you will read your classmates' work and provide specific feedback.
Please note: compositions are graded evaluations. If you are absent on a day reserved for a writing activity, or on a day that a writing activity is due, you must bring a written excuse, even if the absence is one of your first four. Peer editing, like other classroom activities requiring partner communication, cannot be made up.

Purposes for Peer Editing:

• Peer editing is intended to help you learn as much as possible from the process of writing in German.

• When you read other students' compositions, you are objectively evaluating their written work. You provide constructive criticism and helpful hints.
• At the same time, you get a chance to see what someone else has written on the same topic. You observe someone else's organizational skills, see the same topic from another perspective, appreciate the way another student uses vocabulary.
• You can then apply these observations to your own composition, and make improvements in the skill areas being evaluated:

                organization
                content
                grammar
                vocabulary
                mechanics

Procedures  for Peer Editing:

• On a separate sheet of paper, write your name, as well as the name of the student whose composition you are reviewing.   "John Smith is reviewing Jane Doe's work."
• Read your classmate's composition several times, and write comments about each of the following skill areas:

Organization:  10%

• Are the events in proper order?
• Does the essay show clearly:

                    introduction?
                    development of topic?
                    conclusion?

• Does the essay have paragraphs?
• Is the essay cohesive, or does the student just list ideas?

 Content:  30%

• Is the topic adhered to? Are all  the sentences related to the topic?
• Are all required elements present?
• Is the essay interesting?
• Does the student recombine class material in a creative way?

Grammar:  20%
Do not make comments on this category unless your instructor gives you specific instructions to do so.

Vocabulary:  30%

• Does the student use the new vocabulary discussed in class?
• Is the vocabulary varied?
• Does the student refrain from using English?

Mechanics:  10%

• Is spelling correct?
• Are Umlaute included where necessary?
• Is punctuation correct?

Your instructor may give you additional specific guidelines for the above skill areas.

• Return this comment sheet to your classmate, along with the composition you reviewed.  Your comments will be considered as part of your class participation grade.

• Students are not required to make the changes suggested by peer editors.  It is up to each individual to decide which changes are necessary.

• Do not rewrite your entire composition.