A Framework for Teaching Students How to Peer Edit
Peer editing is an effective tool for promoting students’ writing and critical thinking skills and improving the overall quality of their work. In addition, it allows students to receive constructive feedback from their peers, which can help to identify areas for improvement and enhance their writing skills. This article will explore a framework for teaching students how to peer edit.
• Model the process: Before students engage in peer editing, it’s important to model it. For example, you can provide examples of good and bad peer edits and discuss the characteristics of each. This will help students to understand the goals and expectations of the peer editing process.
• Establish clear guidelines: Before students begin peer editing, it’s important to establish clear guidelines for what they should be looking for and what types of feedback they should provide. This could include guidelines for giving constructive criticism, identifying areas for improvement, and making suggestions for revision.
• Emphasize the importance of respect and kindness: Peer editing can be a sensitive process, so it’s important to emphasize the importance of respect and kindness when giving feedback. Students should be encouraged to approach the process positively and be mindful of their feedback’s impact on their peers.
• Provide structured opportunities for peer editing: To ensure that students engage in effective peer editing, it’s important to provide structured opportunities for them to practice. This could include in-class peer editing sessions, where students work in pairs or small groups to provide feedback on each other’s work.
• Foster a culture of revision: Peer editing should not be seen as a one-time event but as a key component of a larger revision process. Students should be encouraged to revise their work based on the feedback they receive and to incorporate that feedback into future writing assignments.
• Incorporate peer editing into the grading process: It can help reinforce the process’s importance and encourage students to take it seriously. For example, you could include a portion of the grade for the quality of the peer editing and the revision process.
• Provide follow-up support: Finally, it’s important to provide follow-up support to ensure that students can effectively incorporate the feedback they receive into their writing. This could include one-on-one conferences, small group discussions, or other writing and revision activities.
Peer editing is valuable for promoting students’ writing and critical thinking skills. By following this framework, you can help students to effectively engage in the peer editing process and receive the feedback they need to improve their work. In addition, by fostering a culture of revision and incorporating peer editing into the grading process, you can help to ensure that your students receive the support they need to become better writers and critical thinkers.