Peer+Conference+Guidelines

=** Follow these Directions for Posting the Rough Draft of Your Work: **= =** Follow these Directions for Posting Conferences and Comments: **=
 * 1) ** Make sure your work has a title even if it is "Untitled." **
 * 2) ** Post work on time to ensure feedback is given in a timely manner. **
 * 3) ** Ask yourself, "Have I met all the requirements and format for the piece?" **
 * 1) ** Make sure you include the name of the person you are addressing **
 * 2) ** ALWAYS post at least two (2) peer conferences as a comment on two (2) different people's posts. ** If you see someone already has one, comment on someone else's that doesnt.
 * 3) ** Make respectful comments, but remember not to take feedback personally. Sometimes you may have to "agree to disagree." **

==** Before beginning a peer conference, select two-three questions you would like the reader to focus on in his/her feedback: **==
 * 1) ** Do you see a clear purpose for what I have written? What is it? **
 * 2) ** Have I chosen a topic that is too large to cover in a piece like this? If so, how should I narrow it? **
 * 3) ** Are there places where you wish I had included more detail or imagery? If so, where? **
 * 4) ** Are there parts that could be left out? If so, what are they? **
 * 5) ** Are there places where I could have used more exact or appropriate words? If so, where and what words do you suggest as replacements? **
 * 6) ** Does the opening line 'grab' you? Does it begin energetically, with plenty of active verbs? How else could it be improved? **
 * 7) ** State the topic of this paper. Does it interest you? Why or why not? **
 * 8) ** Do I vividly and clearly describe the situation in the piece, making it come alive for the reader? Explain. **
 * 9) ** Does the end provide closure and offer an interesting final insight that helps you to understand the significance of the experience? How could the writer make it more effective? **
 * 10) ** Finally, shut your eyes and think about the piece. What did you get out of it? **
 * 11) ** Identify and describe in detail what you find to be the main problems with the piece. What do I need to do to revise this piece successfully in relation to the problems that you find? **
 * 12) ** What is the piece’s weakest aspects? **
 * 13) ** Is the focus clear? Do all the stanzas stay on target with the topic? **
 * 14) ** If I used abstract or general terms, suggest ways to make them more concrete. **
 * 15) ** Is the title appealing? Suggest an alternate that would make someone **// want //** to read this piece. **
 * 16) ** To the best of your ability, check for and point out mechanical errors, wordiness, and incorrect spelling. **

==** When responding to a peer’s blog post consider using one of the following sentence starters: **==
 * 1) ** I wonder what would happen if… **
 * 2) ** What did you mean by… **
 * 3) ** When I begin reading your essay, I am immediately interested because... **
 * 4) ** I am not particularly interested at the beginning of your essay because… **
 * 5) ** I think a real strength of this essay is… **