Students who complete English 110 should:

Be able to critique their own and others’ work by emphasizing global revision early in the writing process and local revision later in the process.

When I peer review others work, I often look at the language, the grammar, and if the ideas they have are being explained and also make sense. I peer review the best I can so that my peers can also achieve writing a good paper. With my commenting, I will note if I think certain paragraphs are strong, I will suggest adding things in certain areas of the essay, such as “add more to this idea, maybe add a caveat about how sometimes you are right about a subject. Sgambati brings up the issue on self-doubt with this strategy, maybe use that?” I will suggest certain vocabulary words or taking out specific words like “but” to make the paper run more smoothly, but I like to remember that there is nothing wrong with positive feedback so I make sure to give that too, saying things like “this is a great way to end your essay. I think it leaves a powerful message.” I think my development through the course of peer review did improve, and I made sure to leave positive feedback, global revisions, and to point out grammar mistakes. I really read the paper as if it were my own so I could honestly give the best feedback as possible. I want others to be able to turn in their best work so I really try to critique in a more formal way, so that it does not come off rude. I think peer-reviewing has helped me become a better writer, especially where there were times I would peer-review without the professor’s feedback, and other times where I would have the professor’s feedback and could choose to add onto what was being suggested. I think my own writing was influenced by peer reviewing because of the suggestions I would be able to come up with after reading someone else’s work and critiquing it. I think that I was more open yet knew what needed to be done so that my or my peer’s paper could become stronger yet have all the details and evidence that is necessary. Peer reviewing can truly be one of the best sources when it comes to revising your paper and it is always good to have an outside perspective because then not only are you getting new advice, but its most likely not biased, and just meant to give you feedback that could be helpful.