1. Students work in groups of four. Each group member writes her or his own story.Peer Feedback on Writing
Method
1. Students work in groups of four. Each group member writes her or his own story.
2. The other three members serve as editors (and their names are listed on the final book as such). Editing focuses on aspects such as fidelity to the story genre, appeal to the intended audience, clarity of plot, depth of description of setting and characters, and any other points that the teacher and students feel need attention. Each group member uses a different color pen or font when editing. To emphasize the skill of praising, students highlight not just what needs improvement but also the strengths of the draft and what they, the editors, can learn from it about the elements of good writing.
3. In addition to written feedback, the group holds discussions about each book.
4. After the books have been completed, group members survey their classmates and other readers to see how the group’s books were received by their intended audience.
PIES Analysis: Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, Equal Participation, and Simultaneous Interaction
P |
Because all groupmates contribute to each book, the books bear the names of all group members, rather than belonging solely to the original author. Reaction to the group’s books by their readers provides feedback to the whole group. |
I |
Each group member is responsible for writing and revising drafts, and for giving feedback on others’ drafts. |
E |
Everyone is encouraged to participate, because everyone is to write a story and to provide feedback on the other stories. |
S |
Each student is active when writing a story and when giving feedback. One member per group talks at a time during peer-feedback sessions. |
From “Reading Alone Together: Enhancing Extensive Reading via Student-Student Cooperation in Second-Language Instruction” by George Jacobs and Patrick Gallo.
Reading Online, www.readingonline.org
Posted February 2002