Peer Feedback on Major Assignment

Peer feedback is controversial, but it's something in which I very much believe.

Today, I had students fill out a BINGO like card when viewing their peers' work. This is for an assignment for International Relations.

The students would spend 10 minutes looking at their peers' papers and for each square, they would award their peers either a green, yellow, or red sticker (green= good, yellow = needs work, red = isn't there).

I was very excited about this activity. However, many students were not at the point in the writing where they could adequately participate. Instead of forcing them to do so, I split the class in half and allowed the students who needed to keep writing to write, and the students who were ready for peer editing, to peer edit.

Normally, I would be more strict, but this is an elective class and it is the week before finals.

The students who did participate received great feedback and are continuing the editing process.

Peer Editing Flash Fiction

Almost nothing receives as much universal skepticism from students, their parents, and other teachers than announcing that an assignment will be peer edited. A particularly contrary student (who I love) asked, "Does that really work?" indicating in his intonation that his own answer was, "No, no it doesn't."

But I, and most other writing teachers, disagree. However, as with any pedagogical endeavor, peer editing has to be well planned and cannot be the only source of critique that students receive on their writing. The teacher still plays a role, just not necessarily the only one.

Also, students must be peer edited by multiple students, so that they receive a variety of perspectives. In addition, they choose who peer edits them. They can select people that they trust and with whom they feel safe.

Students peer editing. 

After the peer editing day, students submit the second draft to me. They turn in the peer editing worksheets, and as I grade their second draft, I will note if they made the necessary changes. When a peer editor suggest a correction in which the writer doesn't agree, the writer can respond and challenge the correction. Therefore when I'm reading their peer editing worksheets, I understand why the writer didn't make the change and can weigh into the conversation.

Peer editing fosters a community of learners and helps students hone their own skills by looking at other examples of student work.

Here is a link to the Flash Fiction Peer Editing Worksheet.

Here is a link to the Flash Fiction Assignment.