Peer Critiquing

Once you've determined your approach, construct a process for its implementation. The following suggestions are from John Bean's Engaging Ideas.

A. Response-Centered 

1. Divide the class into small groups. 

2. Each writer reads the draft out loud or provides a copy of the text for group members to read silently. 

3. Group members are given several minutes to take notes on their responses. This is most effective if students have specific guidlines to follow regarding their response.

4. Each group member explains the responses to the writer. They do not give advice about how to improve the text. The writer listens and takes notes, but does not try to justify or explain the text. 

5. At the conclusion of the session, each writer takes the responses received and decides which ones to address in the next draft.

B. Advice-Centered

1. Divide the class into small groups. 

2. Group members exchange papers and read them. 

3. Each reader composes a review of the texts read. To do so, they use a checklist created by the instructor or the Writing Center (available here).