37 Proposal Argument Peer Review Assignment Guidelines
Proposal Argument Peer Review
This peer review activity differs from the previous ones completed this semester, so please read the instructions carefully. I will assign you a peer review partner in class. This exercise will take at least 60 minutes total, 30 minutes for each essay. This assignment has been adapted from UI’s ENGL 102 ISI course.
Assignment:
Before peer review:
- Print an extra copy of your paper.
- Next, cut each of the paragraphs apart being careful to cut all the margins so that it is impossible to tell the order of the paragraphs by comparing the edges of the cut paper. Do this before class on Nov. 9 and bring your cut up paragraphs to class. Cutting the paragraphs in this way may take a while but taking time to cut them out right will result in an effective review by your classmate. If some paragraphs are cut in two as a result of running onto a second page, it will not affect the exercise adversely.
During peer review:
- Now, mix the paragraphs up really well and hand them to your partner. Their job is to put the paragraphs back together in the correct order without help. Your job is to keep quiet and watch your partner try. You can learn a great deal about the unity of your paper from your partner’s “mistakes.” In short, your partner may unknowingly show you a way to improve the organization of your paper while trying to reconstruct it. If your reviewer has trouble connecting certain parts of the paper, take that as an indication of weak transitions. Almost everyone should be able to find ways to improve his or her paper just by observing.
Warning: Even if you are tempted to do so, do not help your partner! The exercise will not be nearly as effective if you give hints. Besides, in no other lesson is it your job to sit around and watch someone else do the work. Enjoy it.
- Once your partner has completed the exercise, switch roles and do the same with your partner’s paper. Now, it’s your turn to piece the essay back together while your partner observes.
After peer review:
- Write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned from this lesson and what changes you made to your paper as a result. Upload this reflection to Canvas by Nov 9.
