In Class Peer Activity

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6.

E-mail your paper to other person in your pair/group.

Each read your own paper aloud to the other person (other person should be listening and reading
along with the copy your e-mailed).
If you notice a spelling or grammatical error you can make note or fix it, but what I really want you
to be paying attention to is how the sentences sound. If theyre awkward/confusing/unclear then work
on fixing them.
When you get to the end of a paragraph, discuss if the meaning is clear and if it successfully
supports the main idea of the paper.
Do this for each paragraph, then switch to the other persons paper and do the same thing. Again,
pay particular attention to sentence structure, making sure that everything is clear. Then discuss the
paragraphs. You dont want to just be reading the essay aloud, but having a discussion about them.
If you have time left, have your partner read your paper aloud to you and see if you catch anything
else.

Cheryl Hoy

BGSU GSW 1100/1110

05 Oct. 2010

Proposing Solutions
Writers WorkshopPeer Review
(spend approximately 25 minutes on this peer review / The time you spent:

st

Your Name (1 Peer Reviewer):____________________________

Whose paper are you reviewing? (Name of writer of the draft):_____________________________________
As you read the draft, silently by yourself, answer the following questions and write your responses on the
draft.

1. This essay needs a possible or current solutions, why each is not solving the problem, best
solution, counterargument, refute to the counterargument, and implementation of the best
solution. Which, if any, are missing in this draft? Write your comments in the margin of the
essay and tell the writer what is missing.
2. Each paragraph needs to be fully developed. Look at the best solution paragraph,
counterargument, and refute paragraphs. How many sentences are in each one? 7-10 are
expected. Each paragraph should have the following types of sentences:
Topic Sentence: This should have a transitional statement, like The best solution is or Some people argue
Explanation Sentence: This should explain why it is (or is not) the best solution.
Evidence: This should be a quote, an example, or a specific and concrete detail showing the point.
Explanation and transitional sentence: This should explain how the evidence illustrates the point.
Evidence: This should be a quote, an example, or a specific and concrete detail showing the point.
Explanation Sentence: This should explain how the evidence illustrates the point.

Wrap-up: This should connect the two pieces of evidence together and show how they support the topic sentence

Can you identify each sentences purpose in the paragraph? Write your comments next to the
paragraph in the draft and tell the writer what is missing in each paragraph.
3. Is there a counter argument in the essay and is it fully developed? Does the
counterargument name the opposing side? If there are no counterarguments clearly stated in
the draft or no name is stated as the opposing side, then in the margin of the essay, write a
note telling the writer what is missing.
If the counterargument follows the best solution paragraph, then it CANNOT argue that the
best solution is not the best because something else is or argue that another possible solution is
the best. The counterargument must argue the weakness, disadvantage, or negative aspect of
the solution, meaning it is not the best way to solve the problem. Why is the solution not the
best? What does the counterargument say is the flaw in the solution? Write your comments next
to the paragraph in the draft and tell the writer what is missing.
Here are some reasons that you could consider for your counter-argument/opposing view paragraph:
The solution is not practical, meaning it will take too much cooperation from too many different
organizations, people or individuals.
The solution is not feasible, meaning it is not cost effective because it will cost too much to implement, it
will cost too much in the long run, it will cost too much to initiate, it will cost too much to maintain, or the
costs do not outweigh the benefits.
The solution is not plausible, meaning it is not credible or believable because it will only work in theory
and cannot be applied in an actual situation.
The solution is not sufficient, meaning it will not completely solve the problem.
The solution is not permanent, meaning it will only fix the problem temporarily.
The solution is not reasonable because it will create other problems.
The solution involves too much risk, meaning the risks do not outweigh the benefits.

4. The refute must address the specific concerns brought up in the counterargument and reassert
the validity of the best solution. Does it? Is there a separate refute paragraph? A refute must be
developed more than one or two sentences and it must be in a separate paragraph following the
counterargument. Write your comments next to the paragraph in the draft and tell the writer what
is missing.

5. The implementation paragraph should follow the best solution paragraph or be placed before the
conclusion. The implementation paragraph must contain:
Topic Sentence:
Who should be involved:
Where and when should it take place:
How long will it take:
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step and so on:
Wrap-up:

What is missing from the implementation paragraph? Write your comments next to the paragraph
in the draft and tell the writer what is missing.

6. Usage & Mechanics

a. Check for MLA format. Circle one answer below, and on the draft, cross out any errors. Write your
comments in the margin of the draft and tell the writer what is missing
a. Is there a works cited page? YES
NO
b. Is the works cited page formatted correctly? YES
NO
c. Is the works cited page titled: Works Cited in the center of the page, one-inch from the top
margin, in Times New Roman 12pt font, without any italicizing, bolding, or underlining? YES
NO
d. Is the writers last name and page number correctly placed on each page of the essay
including on the works cited page?
YES
NO
e. Is the first page correctly formatted? YES
NO
f. Is there a title for the essay? YES
NO
b. Is there a consistent point of view? Circle in the draft each you, your, yourself, one, and
oneself.
c. Does the writer use formal language, effective word choice, and an academic tone--no
conversational, casual, slang, or vague words or absolute phrases and no contractions?
Circle in the draft every conversational, casual, and slang word or phrase, such as well, yes, no, kids, etc.
Circle in the draft every vague word, such as this, that, thing, there is, and there are.
Circle in the draft every contraction, such as isnt, dont, its, theyre, arent, wouldnt, etc.
Circle in the draft every absolute word, such as everyone, everybody, anyone, all, none, nobody,
always, and never.
Cheryl Hoy

BGSU GSW 1100/1110

05 Oct. 2010

Proposing Solutions
Writers WorkshopPeer Review
(spend approximately 25 minutes on this peer review / The time you spent:

Your Name (2nd Peer Reviewer):__________________________

Whose paper are you reviewing? (Name of writer of the draft):_____________________________________
As you read the draft, silently by yourself, answer the following questions and write your responses on the
draft.

1. Read the Introduction.

Is the introductory paragraph no longer than one page?

YES

NO

Is this page set up correctly in MLA format for the first page of an essay? YES

Does the introduction define and describe the problem?

Does the introduction briefly discuss the causes of the problem?

Does the introduction identify those involved and affected by the problem? YES

NO

Does the introduction identify the community location of the problem area? YES

NO

Does the introduction provide a brief historical or cultural background? YES

YES

NO

NO
YES

NO

NO

Does the introduction assert the need to solve the problem?

YES

NO

Which, if any, of the above items are missing from the introductory paragraph? Write your
comments in the margin of the essay, next to the introduction, and tell the writer what is missing.

Underline the thesis that lists all possible solutions and asserts the best solution.

Which, if any, of the above items are missing from the introductory paragraph? Write your
comments in the margin of the essay, next to the introduction, and tell the writer what is missing.

2. This essay needs three alternate/possible solutions:

(1) paragraph on the first possible solution,
(2) paragraph on why the first possible solution is not the best solution,
(3) paragraph on the second possible solution,
(4) paragraph on why the second possible solution is not the best solution,
(5) paragraph on the third possible solution,
(6) paragraph on why the third possible solution is not the best solution.
Which, if any, are missing in this draft? Write your comments in the margin of the essay and tell
the writer what is missing.
3. Each paragraph needs to be fully developed. At the end of each paragraph note how many
sentences are in each paragraph7-10 are expected. Check each sentence for its purpose.
Each paragraph should have the following types of sentences:
Topic Sentence: This should have a transitional statement. The first paragraph for each solution should read
something similar to this: The first possible solution is.. and the second paragraph for each
solution should read something similar to this: While .. is a possible solution, it is not the best
because..
Explanation Sentence: This should explain, for the first paragraph for each solution, why it is possible solution,
and for the second paragraph for each solution, why it is not the best solution.
Evidence: This should be a quote, an example, or a specific and concrete detail showing the point.
Explanation and transitional sentence: This should explain how the evidence illustrates the point.
Evidence: This should be a quote, an example, or a specific and concrete detail showing the point.
Explanation Sentence: This should explain how the evidence illustrates the point.
Wrap-up: This should connect the two pieces of evidence together and show how they support the topic sentence

Can you identify each sentences purpose in the paragraph? Write your comments next to the
paragraph in the draft and tell the writer what is missing in each paragraph.
The second paragraph to each possible solution CANNOT argue that it is not the best solution
because something else is. The second paragraph to each possible solution must argue the
weakness, disadvantage, or negative aspect of that particular solution, thus, meaning it is not the
best way to solve the problem. Why is that particular solution not the best? What is its flaw,
negative aspect, or weakness? Write in the margin of the essay and tell the writer what is missing.
Here are some reasons that you could consider for the second paragraph for each solution:
The solution is not practical, meaning it will take too much cooperation from too many different
organizations, people or individuals.
The solution is not feasible, meaning it is not cost effective because it will cost too much to implement, it
will cost too much in the long run, it will cost too much to initiate, it will cost too much to maintain, or the

costs do not outweigh the benefits.

The solution is not plausible, meaning it is not credible or believable because it will only work in theory
and cannot be applied in an actual situation.
The solution is not sufficient, meaning it will not completely solve the problem.
The solution is not permanent, meaning it will only fix the problem temporarily.
The solution is not reasonable because it will create other problems.
The solution involves too much risk, meaning the risks do not outweigh the benefits.

4. Is there a transitional topic sentence in each paragraph? ? Write in the margin of the essay and
tell the writer what is missing in each topic sentence.
One current solution is.. OR. Some argue that XXXXX is the best solution.
While XXXXXX is current a solution, it is failing because.
One possible solution is.. OR Some argue that XXXXX is the best solution
While XXXXX is a possible solution, it will not solve the problem because..
The best solution is.
Some people will argue that XXXXX is not the best solution because.
While XXXXX does have a few flaws that will need work, it is still the best solution.
Implementing the best solution will require several organizations and many steps.
5. The conclusion should briefly restate the best solution, but the thesis should not be copied word
for word from the introduction. The conclusion should address the implications of the argument.
Does the conclusion address the consequences of not solving the problem? Write in the margin of
the essay, next to the conclusion, and tell the writer what if this is missing or not fully discussed.
Does the conclusion address the positive outcomes of solving the problem? Write in the margin of
the essay, next to the conclusion, and tell the writer if this is missing or not fully discussed.