Why peer editing is important

This can help them improve each other's writing. Related: Writing Skills: Definition and Examples. Here are six steps you can take to peer edit someone's writing:. Before you start, decide what you want to look for while editing and how you want to communicate your edits and suggestions to the writer.

Consider making a list of items you want to review, such as grammar, content and clarity issues. You might also consider what tone you want to use while editing. For example, you may decide to be both kind and constructive when writing your feedback. Before making edits, read through the entire piece of writing. This can ensure that you're familiar with the content before you make changes or provide suggestions. Try to analyze the content, review the organization of the piece and examine both the introduction and conclusion of the paper.

Once you've read the piece, you can begin proofreading for errors. Proofreading refers to identifying smaller errors, such as incorrect syntax, formatting issues and punctuation errors.

If you're editing a physical paper, you can highlight or circle mistakes in the paper or write comments in the margins of the paper. If you're editing digitally, you may be able to use highlighting tools and commenting features in a word processing program to identify mistakes.

Related: How To Become a Proofreader. After you've proofread, you can edit for larger, more important mistakes in the paper's content. When revising content, you might ask yourself the following questions:. You may also make specific suggestions to help the writer fix certain issues.

Consider reviewing the paper several times for content errors to ensure you've provided helpful edits. Once you've finished editing the piece, write some feedback to share with the writer. This could include identifying the strengths of the paper, the reasons for your edits, advice for improving a specific section or overall content suggestions for the piece.

Writing notes about the paper can be beneficial for both the editor and the writer. It can help the editor review their recommendations when they discuss the paper with the writer, and it can give the writer notes to refer to when revising. The peer editing process typically ends with the editor and writer discussing the paper or essay.

You may offer the writer feedback and allow them to review your edits and ask questions if they need clarification on any of your comments. It's important to explain your edits and suggestions to the writer respectfully. Many programs Earning an online business degree can lead to a variety of new career opportunities.

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Students learn a lot from a peer edit. Take a look through and then practice peer editing yourself. Follow the Thesis The thesis is generally found in the first paragraph of a paper, which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It can also be found, in various forms, throughout the entire paper, especially the conclusion. Does the paper and its main points support that thesis?

Is there any information that is included that contradicts the stated thesis? Peer review builds student investment in writing and helps students understand the relationship between their writing and their coursework in ways that undergraduates sometimes overlook. It forces students to engage with writing and encourages the self-reflexivity that fosters critical thinking skills.

Students become lifelong thinkers and writers who learn to question their own work, values, and engagement instead of simply responding well to a prompt.

Making the writing process more collaborative through peer review gives students opportunities to learn from one another and to think carefully about the role of writing in the course at hand. The goals of the assignment are clarified. By assessing whether or not individual student examples meet the requirements, students are forced to focus on goals instead of getting distracted entirely by grammar and mechanics or by their own anxiety.

Peer review provides students with contemporary models of disciplinary writing. Peer review gives them a communal space to explore writing in the disciplines. This is helpful to writers at all skill levels, in all classes, and at all stages of the writing process.

Peer review provides professional experience for students having their writing reviewed. Last but not least, peer review minimizes last minute drafting and may cut down on common lower-level writing errors. Sources: Cho, Kwangsu, Christian D.